tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38699552962619829222024-03-12T18:34:46.399-04:00My Sweet NomsaMy Sweet Nomsa - A Lifestyle, Crafting and Small Business BlogAshlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-86274349483624244292014-04-11T16:35:00.001-04:002014-04-11T16:35:31.014-04:00Upcoming Craft Shows and New Jewelry Items!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LIFUIDRP5j0/U0hMQ2pekWI/AAAAAAAADIk/yaYlEZys58k/s1600/1-Etsy59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LIFUIDRP5j0/U0hMQ2pekWI/AAAAAAAADIk/yaYlEZys58k/s1600/1-Etsy59.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a> </div>
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This past week I have spent some time photographing items, editing the photos and getting them added into <a href="http://www.mysweetnomsa.etsy.com/"><b>my etsy store</b></a>. The above collage is just a few of the new items I now have in stock and I have about another dozen or so new items to list (and they are extra sparkly!)</div>
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Speaking of my etsy store (seamless plug right there), I am having a 15% off EVERYTHING sale just because it's spring and I want to :)</div>
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Head on over to my etsy store (another totally smooth plug), browse the new jewels and score a great deal!</div>
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Also, if you are ever curious as to how any of my jewelry lays, want a better idea of the size, wondering how it looks on a person....just ask! I am happy to model and show off my jewelry more for you to give you a better idea of how awesome it will look on you! Here are a few of my own designs that I wore recently and if you can't tell...I am all to happy to ham it up for the camera. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>sidenote: for some reason when I upload this photo collage, blogger automatically edits my photo making me look airbrushed and without some of my moles. I swear in real life I have wrinkles. And am more mole-y.</i></span></div>
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The items being worn are <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/180787732/on-sale-dogwood-flower-necklace-gold?ref=shop_home_active_18">1</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/178557300/on-sale-romantic-gold-earrings-peacock?ref=shop_home_active_10">2</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/181040055/on-sale-romantic-silver-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_15">3</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/185667369/on-sale-rose-gold-earrings-14k-rose-gold?ref=shop_home_active_9">4</a> (clockwise from top right)</div>
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**UPCOMING CRAFT SHOWS!**</div>
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APRIL 12TH - I will be at the 'Art on the Chattahoochee' craft show
this Saturday (April 12th) from 10am to 6pm. It is in Norcross, GA and
the weather is supposed to be <em>perfect,</em> so come on out! You can find more details about it <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-on-the-chattahoochee-tickets-9491594615?aff=eventful/r/eventful" target="_blank">HERE!</a></div>
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APRIL 26TH - I will be at Madison Fest in Madison, GA. The event is
just one-day and will be in Town Park from 10-4pm. There are also going
to be a lot of plant vendors, so it is the perfect event to get some
handcrafted goodies and also your new plants for your garden.</div>
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MAY 3RD & 4TH - I will be back at the Indie South Fair in Athens,
GA. This is one of my favorite events of the year and I am so happy to
be doing it again! Some of the most amazing vendors and wares are at
this show, so be sure to check it out!</div>
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As always, reach out anytime with questions or say hi if you see me
at a show! I love meeting my customers in person and without your
support, I couldn't make jewelry in yoga pants all day. Thank you!</div>
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With Love, Ashlee </div>
Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-17710212613965357112014-04-07T21:18:00.002-04:002014-04-07T21:18:39.350-04:00New Stores, New Shows and Balancing Dogs<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey Everyone! I hope you aren't all curled up in the fetal position right now with a bottle of Claritin and a box of tissues. Still being a newbie to Southern living, I always forget just how pollen-y it is here in Georgia in the spring. It's beautiful during this time of year but definitely makes me feel like I have stuffed cotton balls up my nose, all the way to my brain. </div>
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My little white Prius is currently lime green and I am religiously taking my allergy pill each morning with breakfast. But the flowers are so gosh darn pretty, I can forgive the congestion. </div>
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For two weekends in a row, we took part in some craft shows and got to meet a whole lot of fun, interesting people (if you are one of them - HI!). </div>
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The first show we did was in Conyers, Georgia and it was their 'Cherry Blossom Festival.' It was humongous (like 40,000 attendees and over 300 vendors) and windy!! Being the awesome photographer that I am, I managed to take zero photos of the event, but just know that it was B-I-G. The second day of the show was so windy that even with 25 weights on each of our tent legs and us physically holding down our tent, it would still pick up in strong gusts of wind. We had a few neighbors whose tent lifted and shifted into others tents, so Sunday ended up being quite eventful with helping people with their tents, holding down tents, trying to block our wares from sideways rain and wind-proofing our wares to the best of our ability. </div>
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The next weekend we took part in the Stone Mountain Bluegrass Festival. This was a really fun event. It was right in the heart of Stone Mountain Village and had little areas/stages all over the festival for musicians to play. We had a rainy Saturday, but Sunday was clear skies and lovely! </div>
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Also, I managed to bring my camera this time and take some photos (hooray for me!)</div>
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* And yeah...don't you worry....I heard plenty of jokes about that 3-hour parking sign *</div>
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Look at that guy in the aqua blue shirt and overalls.... </div>
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John Eric managed to find this guy and his pup in one of the tents and all day that puppy stayed on his owners shoulders as the fella walked around with his banjo. </div>
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It was a really neat event and we are looking forward to being a part of it next year. </div>
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Besides craft shows, I have been working on getting inventory into a few new stores. Early last week, <a href="http://www.craftedwestside.com/">Crafted Westside</a> opened up on the west side of Atlanta and it is so gorgeous inside. The owners have done such a fabulous job getting it set up and the vendors there are seriously top-notch. </div>
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Still working on getting my display just right, but I am loving what I have so far. Just need to figure out a solution to those other necklaces and earrings that are just hanging out on the shelf right now. </div>
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Also, this last week I re-stocked <a href="https://www.facebook.com/inmandrygoodsboutique">Inman Dry Goods</a> in the Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta. I love their idea of using an old shutter for part of my display!</div>
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If you stop in Inman Dry Goods, I do have jewelry elsewhere in the store, so be sure to ask or browse around. </div>
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This week I also sent out a large wholesale order which I always enjoy doing :)</div>
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Athens, Georgia friends - be on the look out for these jewelry items plus a bunch more at <a href="http://www.urbansanctuaryspa.com/">Urban Sanctuary Spa.</a> </div>
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Lastly, with the cloudy weather (perfect for photographing) I have been able to take a bunch of photos of new items that before were only at the craft shows and will be adding them to <a href="http://www.mysweetnomsa.etsy.com/">my etsy store</a> throughout the week. Here's a sneak peek of some earrings to come...</div>
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Be on the look out for another blog post later this week with details on this weekend's craft show (Gwinett County - I'm coming for ya!) plus photos of all the new items on etsy. </div>
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Have a great night everyone!</div>
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~ </div>
Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-13900058193408173032014-03-21T10:22:00.000-04:002014-03-21T10:22:53.279-04:00Life & Business Updates!Oh my goodness, I am not sure what has happened, but 2014 is shaping up to be the busiest year yet for me. Instead of getting to wear yoga pants all day and living by my own schedule ... I actually am putting on pants with a zipper about 5 days out of the week and running all over the state with meetings and obligations that require my awesome jewelry briefcase.<br />
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Between business meetings all about town, getting more involved in the community and being more mindful of my time, I'm hustling all over the place and working harder than ever.<br />
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These last two weeks I have been finalizing the details on getting into two new retail stores. Last week I had the privilege of putting my items into the new <a href="https://www.facebook.com/inmandrygoodsboutique" target="_blank">Inman Dry Goods Store</a> in the Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta. It is an amazing boutique operated by the owners of SQ/FT in Downtown Decatur and has some of the cutest things in it! Think Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.<br />
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Next week I am going to be dropping off items for the brand new <a href="http://www.craftedwestside.com/" target="_blank">Crafted Westside </a>boutique in Atlanta's West End neighborhood and I am going to be one of the first artists in the store when it opens its doors April 1st! The owners contacted me a little over a month ago and it has been such a cool process to see how they are putting this store together. From finding the perfect building, to getting the displays, to renovating the space, it's all being done and I can't wait to see the final product. Their vision is spot-on and I am so excited to be able to sell/work starting next month!<br />
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In <a href="http://www.mysweetnomsa.etsy.com/" target="_blank">etsy</a> news, with the rainy weather here in Georgia, I have had some great opportunities to photograph new jewelry. The cloudy weather creates some perfect photographing light in the corner of my living room, so on rainy days, I am typically hanging out in the corner photographing, rephotographing, and re-rephotographing items. I am trying to expand my delicate bracelet line, so I added these new trio bracelets which are available in either <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/183447032/silver-triple-ring-bracelet-sterling?ref=shop_home_active_2" target="_blank">sterling silver</a> or <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/183447342/gold-triple-circle-bracelet-gold-charm?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">14K gold filled.</a><br />
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Last week I also restocked my jewelry in <a href="http://www.republicsalon.com/" target="_blank">Republic Salon</a> & <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Agora-Vintage/154087021459908" target="_blank">Agora Vintage</a> (both in Athens, GA) as well as <a href="http://www.homegrowndecatur.com/" target="_blank">Homegrown</a> & <a href="http://www.wildoatsandbillygoats.com/" target="_blank">Wild Oats Billy Goats</a> (both in Decatur, GA). All places have full displays and are ready to be shopped! <br />
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Lastly, this weekend is the start of craft show season here and I have been making jewelry like a mad woman. My display holds more jewelry than ever before and I want people to have a lot of selection, so I have submerged myself into the wonderful world of playing with gemstones, jewels and vintage lockets. I am going to have A LOT of one-of-a-kind items and brand new items at these upcoming shows, so if you are in the area, head on over and get yourself some pretty cool jewelry.<br />
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March 22nd & 23rd: 10am-5pm both days, Booth 256<br />
<a href="http://www.conyerscherryblossomfest.com/" target="_blank">Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival</a> (in Conyers, GA at the Georgia International Horse Park)<br />
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March 29th & 30th: 10am -6pm (Sat) & 11am-6pm (Sun)<br />
<a href="http://www.stonemountainvillage.com/ssim.html" target="_blank">Stone Mountain Blue Grassroots Art & Music Festival </a>(at Stone Mountain)<br />
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May 3rd & 4th: 10am-6pm both days<br />
<a href="http://indiesouthfair.com/events/spring-market/" target="_blank">Indie South Fair</a> (in Athens, GA at 660 N. Chase St)<br />
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There are going to be a few more shows in April and May but I am still waiting to hear back on final confirmation from those. But you should be able to find me in the Georgia cities of Norcross and Madison and the Atlanta neighborhood of Kirkwood this spring. <br />
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PHEW!!!!<br />
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Stay up to date with me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mysweetnomsa" target="_blank">facebook</a> and get overloaded with photos of my puppy on <a href="http://instagram.com/mysweetnomsa" target="_blank">instagram</a>.<br />
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~ Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-1450649805573055562014-03-02T11:00:00.000-05:002014-03-02T11:00:00.227-05:00It's Business Time! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cy9cX4Q00nw/UxKfKezLLYI/AAAAAAAADD8/Cd2Q-FCbUe4/s1600/3b958b4a9ff211e3a2530e616ca66f71_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cy9cX4Q00nw/UxKfKezLLYI/AAAAAAAADD8/Cd2Q-FCbUe4/s1600/3b958b4a9ff211e3a2530e616ca66f71_8.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Woohoo! Spring is finally peaking out from all the ice and snow we have been getting here in Atlanta and I am grateful for this slightly warmer climate. The birds are chirping, my puppy dog is hanging out in our backyard (his kingdom) for most of the day and I can stop moaning about how cold it is to my husband every few minutes. (I know that I am going to be missing winter though once the humidity hits here in <strike>the summer</strike> one month.)</div>
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I have been a busy bee these last few weeks on my business expanding into some new retail spaces, getting accepted into some spring craft shows, adding over 30 new items to my etsy store and having my first ever Facebook giveaway (don't worry, there is still time to enter)! </div>
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Here are all the deets....</div>
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First - Athens, Georgia friends....you can now find me again at the store Agora Vintage on Broad Street in Downtown Athens. At the moment, I am no longer at the original Agora, just the new one on Broad. I will definitely be sure to let you know if I go back to the old space, but for right now, grab your jewels at the new location! </div>
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Also, I have a new retailer in Atlanta that is coming together. Should be there in the beginning of April once the store opens, but I will give you all those details once it gets closer to the opening date :)</div>
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Second - I am going to be at at least one craft show in March (maybe two....). If you like seeing me person and love craft shows, come to the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival in Conyers, Georgia. The event is going to be March 22nd and 23rd and you can come say hi to me and my helper husband at booth 256. </div>
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Third - New jewelry pieces have been photographed, edited and uploaded to etsy. I had a goal of getting at least 30 new items in my etsy store in February and I got 33 done and added (brushing my shoulders off). </div>
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Clockwise from top left: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/178814088/on-sale-rose-gold-necklace-gold-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_6" target="_blank">1</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/179245237/on-sale-georgia-necklace-state-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=georgia" target="_blank">2</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/181021594/on-sale-light-pink-rose-earrings-crystal?ref=shop_home_active_2" target="_blank">3</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/178557300/on-sale-romantic-gold-earrings-peacock?ref=shop_home_active_24" target="_blank">4</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/179271378/on-sale-moon-necklace-blue-moon-charm?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=moon" target="_blank">5</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/179270956/on-sale-bridesmaid-bracelet-gold-heart?ref=shop_home_active_7&ga_search_query=heart" target="_blank">6</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/180787732/on-sale-dogwood-flower-necklace-gold?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=dogwood" target="_blank">7</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/181040055/on-sale-romantic-silver-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_4" target="_blank">8</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/181035175/on-sale-arrowhead-necklace-silver?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">9</a></div>
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Clockwise from top left: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/178805156/on-sale-chevron-necklace-simple-silver?ref=shop_home_active_2&ga_search_query=chevron" target="_blank">1</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/180801041/on-sale-rainbow-necklace-crystal?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">2</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/181026974/on-sale-turquoise-earrings-turquoise?ref=shop_home_active_7" target="_blank">3</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/178813356/on-sale-best-friends-necklace-set-of-two?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=BFF" target="_blank">4</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/179235268/on-sale-compass-necklace-friendship?ref=shop_home_active_2&ga_search_query=compass" target="_blank">5</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/181019980/on-sale-ampersand-necklace-sterling?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=ampersand" target="_blank">6</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/181034517/on-sale-gold-star-necklace-14k-gold?ref=shop_home_active_3" target="_blank">7</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/178823829/on-sale-light-blue-rose-earrings-crystal?ref=shop_home_active_10" target="_blank">8</a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/181025382/on-sale-initial-necklace-monogrammed?ref=shop_home_active_6" target="_blank">9</a> </div>
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These are just some of the new items in my store that you should go check out in <b><a href="http://www.mysweetnomsa.etsy.com/" target="_blank">my etsy store!</a> </b></div>
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(p.s. - everything is 15% off right now until March 4th at midnight)</div>
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Fourth - I am having a Facebook giveaway right now for one of my popular infinity bracelets. Just head over to the <b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/mysweetnomsa" target="_blank">facebook page</a></b>, share <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MySweetNomsa/posts/575114542580617" target="_blank"><b>the giveaway post</b> </a> and comment whether you want your bracelet to be sterling silver or 14K gold. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-538_kZIIR8U/UxKlwEnhmAI/AAAAAAAADEc/7e0doLkiTvo/s1600/1-Etsy54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-538_kZIIR8U/UxKlwEnhmAI/AAAAAAAADEc/7e0doLkiTvo/s1600/1-Etsy54.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
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One winner will be chosen randomly at 2pm on Monday, March 3rd, so enter now!</div>
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(p.s. - it would be super cool and mean a lot to me if you 'liked' <b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/mysweetnomsa" target="_blank">my page on facebook</a></b> too). </div>
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Phew....so I think that is about all the updates for now. </div>
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Thanks so much for your continued support!!</div>
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~ </div>
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<br />Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-25045564930602443512014-02-21T14:58:00.001-05:002014-02-21T14:58:30.482-05:00Interview with TeakaMarie<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/151914632/scallop-hem-shirt?ref=shop_home_active_2" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/151914632/scallop-hem-shirt?ref=shop_home_active_2" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eN4DpSNjl3I/UwetcjXf2dI/AAAAAAAADDE/cFKe3HIZDso/s1600/il_570xN.461736787_7bzt.jpg" height="464" width="640" /></a> </div>
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If you hang out on Etsy, you probably have seen the gorgeous clothes of etsy shop <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeakaMarie" target="_blank">Teaka Marie</a> gracing the front page of etsy or in various treasuries. Her photos and style is top notch and I am so excited to share some more information about her with you today. <b> </b></div>
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<b>Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started.</b><br />
My name is Teaka and you can find me over at my Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeakaMarie" target="_blank">Teaka Marie</a>. I
love my shop as it’s a way for me to sell my garments that I’ve
designed, drafted and sewn up. <br />
<b><br />
Apart from creating things, what do you do?!</b><br />
Aside from my life sewing for my<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeakaMarie" target="_blank"> Etsy shop</a> I also have a job a church in
my city. I love my job and the people I work with and get to meet.
Sewing does take up a lot of my time however I love to read about
historical figures, enjoying baking and having people over when time
permits. I’m also married to a great guy so when we can, we love to
watch movies together and enjoy each other’s company.</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/151995414/lace-peter-pan-collar-t-shirt?ref=shop_home_active_3" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/151995414/lace-peter-pan-collar-t-shirt?ref=shop_home_active_3" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_hAb6amOco/UweuMX95PfI/AAAAAAAADDI/XZPI-lftzSQ/s1600/il_570xN.462036779_k901.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<b><br />
Where does your inspiration come from?</b><br />
I’m a prairie farm girl. So, a lot of my designs and photo shoot
locations tend to take on a more vintage, somewhat prairie feel. It’s
tempting to try new modern styles however I try to stay consistent with
my designs as in the end that’s the look I love most. <br />
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<b>What does handmade mean to you?</b><br />
I suppose handmade to me is an object created by individuals that either
from a job or a hobby create something out of nothing. Handmade items
tend to be unique and often quantities are limited due to the amount of
love, time and resources that go into them.</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/109998404/color-block-dress-brown-and-purple?ref=shop_home_active_16" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/109998404/color-block-dress-brown-and-purple?ref=shop_home_active_16" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMQBlK3JQX8/Uweudnt7FWI/AAAAAAAADDQ/PECTJQCpqrs/s1600/il_570xN.377119689_1tl8.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>What handmade possession do you most cherish?</b><br />
Many years back an older brother of mine needed to find a project to
work on in his high school shop class. I don’t remember how it ended up
coming about but I drew him a sketch of this silly night stand that had
these curvy tall legs and a cage style store unite. With only a little
doodle he was able to create for me a beautiful 100% unique nightstand
for my bedroom. 10 years later I still have it and use it by my bed. It
was a funny design however I cherish it because of the amount of time
that went into it. It actually means a lot to me. <br />
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<b>How do you get out of your creative ruts?</b><br />
I don’t think I’ve figured out a solution for this yet. I think time is
the only thing that solves that for me. After a new batch of garments
are design and sewn up I tend to step back from designing and just sew
orders until things quiet down in my shop. This gives me time to
recuperate and get back to normal.</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/104778736/ivory-pocket-dress?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/104778736/ivory-pocket-dress?ref=shop_home_active_1" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Epm-lHQcwT8/Uweu02A2BEI/AAAAAAAADDY/lpMEmf00XWc/s1600/il_570xN.470819693_e2s5.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Where do you see yourself and your business in a few years?</b><br />
I’d love to have my own officially website, be able to take on more
custom orders, and dabble a bit more into the wedding gown scene. <br />
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<b>What is the best and worst thing about being an artisan?</b><br />
Best- Having an idea in your head and seeing it come to life.<br />
Worst- Never having a break from your designs. It’s typically always on
my mind along with a constant feeling that I should be sewing something
instead of relaxing.</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/104779830/grey-pocket-skirt-with-bow?ref=shop_home_active_17" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/104779830/grey-pocket-skirt-with-bow?ref=shop_home_active_17" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rHdRb0b-oQw/UwevNHFtiEI/AAAAAAAADDg/zmMNZQNhlsg/s1600/il_570xN.357931694_8r0x.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b><br />
What advice would you give to other artisans trying to sell their wares?</b><br />
It takes time to get your product and name out there. Especially with an
ocean of artists and products, you have to be constantly promoting
yourself, asking for advice, acting on it and renewing what you’re
doing. Being able to make a product is one thing, learning to sell it is
a completely different thing. This is something I’m still trying to
learn.<br />
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What is the most popular item you sell?</b><br />
Last spring I made a simple, white peter pan collar blouse. I never
thought it would sell, I more or less made it so it would help create
the look I wanted for a photo shoot. In the end I’ve sold more of that
blouse than any other item. It’s so hard for me to know what will sell
and what wont. </div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/179080606/yellow-summer-blouse-with-white-lace?ref=shop_home_active_5" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/179080606/yellow-summer-blouse-with-white-lace?ref=shop_home_active_5" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UKvjlILVhvw/Uwevg_TvrAI/AAAAAAAADDo/N5ht_yBXG2E/s1600/il_570xN.563169990_7gql.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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<b></b><b>What are your top five books, movies, musicians and websites</b>?<br />
How about I get you one of each, five is a lot. Haha!<br />
Books- The Gown of Glory by Agnes Sligh Turnbull. <br />
Movie- Gone with the Wind<br />
Musicians- The Civil Wars<br />
Websites- Etsy <br />
<b><br />
Where can we find you online and off?</b><br />
You can find me either at my shop, <a href="http://www.teakamarie.etsy.com/" target="_blank">www.teakamarie.etsy.com</a> </div>
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or my blog <a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://www.lifelikehoney.ca/" rel="#external-link-overlay nofollow" target="_blank">www.lifelikehoney.ca</a></div>
<br />Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-16170077391300988462013-12-01T22:50:00.001-05:002013-12-02T00:07:27.761-05:00Cyber Monday Etsy Sale!<div style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; padding-right: 0; padding-top: 0;">
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Happy Holidays!</div>
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I
don't know about all of you but I am finally starting to wake up from
the butter induced coma I put myself into these last few days. I
actually ate a vegetable tonight that wasn't soaking in some sort of
sauce and my body is overjoyed.</div>
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With the over-eating Thanksgiving bender comes some great deals on holiday shopping and <a href="http://www.mysweetnomsa.etsy.com/" target="_blank">my etsy store</a> is no exception! Right now I am having <a href="http://www.mysweetnomsa.etsy.com/" style="color: #597bb7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">a 20% off sale</a> to celebrate Cyber <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_41156799" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Monday</span></span> and the fact that there are only 24 days until Christmas (and 22 days until my birthday!)</div>
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Spread
some joy this year by giving handmade jewelry that is made with love
from a really nice, cool lady in Atlanta, Georgia. I am always happy to
customize lengths, gemstones and add-on initials to my items to truly
make the gift one-of-a-kind. I have a lot of new jewelry gift sets in
stock as well as plenty of turquoise jewelry, perfect for those December
babies like me!</div>
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Also,
Georgia friends ... I will be at two different craft shows/holiday
markets this December, so stop by in person to say hello! Find me at the
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheIndieSouthFair" style="color: #597bb7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Indie South Fair in Athens, GA</a> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_41156801" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">this Saturday</span></span> and <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_41156802" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Sunday</span></span> (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_41156803" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">December 7 & 8th</span></span>) and the <a href="http://www.athensartistmarket.com/#!featured-artists/cwg" style="color: #597bb7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Athens Artist Market</a> the following weekend (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_41156804" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">December 14th & 15th</span></span>)
also in Athens, GA. If you stop by in person and mention that you are
signed up for my newsletter, I will give you a 20% discount on whatever
you purchase at those shows.</div>
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If you aren't able to stop by the shows, but still want to see my stuff in person, I sell at these awesome places...</div>
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Arbor Salon (1155 Mitchell Bridge Rd, Athens, GA 30606)</div>
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Agora (260 W Clayton St, Athens, GA 30601)</div>
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Agora Vintage (233 E. Broad St., Athens, Georgia)</div>
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Canavan (125 West Jefferson Street, Madison, Georgia</div>
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Frayed Knot (6 W State St, Savannah, GA 31401)</div>
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HomeGrown (412 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030)</div>
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Republic Salon (312 E Broad St, Athens, GA 30601)</div>
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Wild Oats and Billy Goats (112 E Ponce De Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030)</div>
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I hope you enjoy your December and your holiday season. The 20% off sale in <a href="http://www.mysweetnomsa.etsy.com/" style="color: #597bb7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">my etsy store</a> ends on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_41156805" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">December 9th</span></span>!!</div>
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Also, check out <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mysweetnomsa" target="_blank">my facebook page</a> to get the first look at new designs, enter giveaways and to keep in touch!</div>
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<i style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">Click the banner below to be taken to my facebook page!</i></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">~ With Love, Ashlee ~ </span><i style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;"> </i></div>
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-40050937605899511602013-10-20T16:49:00.000-04:002013-10-20T16:49:07.644-04:00Interview with Erin McManness<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I am really excited to get to
share with you an artist that I discovered at one of the boutiques I sell at in Decatur, Georgia. Her name is Erin McManness and creates the most vivid and beautiful pieces of art.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/127159786/mixed-media-art-print-full-color?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jHrLJUyVOsc/UmMFIGZe2GI/AAAAAAAAC8w/zhXArz-fBFU/s640/Flowerhair_SMALL.jpg" width="414" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I
was instantly blown away by her use of colors and the stunning female forms she creates. <br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy getting to know more about her as much as I did!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
P.S....Click on any of the photos in this post to be taken to her <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiribirdIllustrates" target="_blank">etsy store</a>!<br />
<u><b><br /></b></u>
<u><b>Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started.</b></u><br />
<br />I'm Erin,
and I'm currently working towards my Masters degree in Illustration at
the Savannah College of Art and Design. I like rock music and drink way
too much coffee. I have been an artist all of my life, but I got started
on my illustration career path almost 10 years ago, when I traded in my
Musical Theatre Major for a Studio Art major. I was trained as an oil
painter, but now make illustrations in a lot of different media.<br />
<br /><u><b>Apart from creating things, what do you do?! </b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />When I'm not
working on art, I'm usually baking and trying new recipes out on my
boyfriend and our friends. I make a mean Scottish Shortbread, and my
personal favourite is my Lemon Zucchini Bread. If it's got vegetables in
it, it can't be all bad, right? I am also currently searching for a
furry friend to call my sidekick.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOkjKQn7VpI/UmQ_UUvoQyI/AAAAAAAAC9I/hpi2PmHV-r4/s1600/Instagram_sketchingpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOkjKQn7VpI/UmQ_UUvoQyI/AAAAAAAAC9I/hpi2PmHV-r4/s1600/Instagram_sketchingpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOkjKQn7VpI/UmQ_UUvoQyI/AAAAAAAAC9I/hpi2PmHV-r4/s640/Instagram_sketchingpic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><u><b>Where does your inspiration come from?</b></u><br />
<br />My commercial work tends
to lean over to the fashion and editorial side of illustration. I am
extremely interested in fantasy, psychological space, and surrealism. The
figure is my favourite thing to draw, and I am constantly inspired by
it.<br />
<br /><u><b>What does handmade mean to you?</b></u><br />
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<br />Handmade is extremely important
to me. I used to create wedding jewelry, and really cherish the mark of
the artist. The brides I worked with were always so thrilled to have a
custom piece for their special day - and an heirloom for years to come. I
am involved in a local co-op in Decatur, HomeGrown, where we sell only
handmade art, and I shop exclusively online and in local stores and
small businesses for gifts. It means so much to me when others value my
work, and I've taken the pledge to never go to the mall at Christmas
again! I want to give my support to people just like me.</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/157835648/mixed-media-art-print-full-color?ref=listing-shop-header-2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbn78Y-4i_k/UmQ_gAjxR8I/AAAAAAAAC9Q/2GB0QYqsIHI/s640/FlowerPink_silhouette_SMALL.jpg" width="414" /></a></div>
<br /><u><b>How would you describe your creative process?</b></u><br />
<br />My creative process
almost always involves coffee. I currently have a great worktable in my
sunny studio, where I like to jam out and focus on a number of
different projects. As a freelancer, I often have multiple projects at
once, and often find it helpful that I can keep my mind and eyes fresh
by working on all types of work - from an illustrated fashion book, to
apparel designs, to a 10 foot banner for a gaming convention. I love the
variety!<br />
<br /><u><b>What handmade possession do you most cherish?</b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />My boyfriend is
also an illustrator and screen-printer, and he always makes me little
drawings. I don't think he realizes just how much I love them! I keep
them all around my apartment, and tack them to my inspiration board and
refrigerator.</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/125247063/digital-art-print-full-color?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm67TqFkHRY/UmQ_pH9cB3I/AAAAAAAAC9Y/048E2q57FEs/s640/TheBirds_SMALL.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
<br /><u><b>How do you get out of your creative ruts?</b></u><br />
<br />When I'm in a creative
rut, I always go back to this quote, "Winners just get shit done."
Especially in graduate school, it's difficult to sort yourself out of a
creative rut - you're not really allowed to have them at SCAD! While
it's really intense work, I am grateful for the hustle-attitude. If I
really need a break, I'll go out and grab a smoothie and listen to the
Lord of the Rings soundtrack really loudly in my headphones, have a zen
moment, and then get back to it. I try to push myself in times of
creative exhaust - sometimes you get your best ideas when you think
you're out of ideas!<br />
<br /><u><b>Where do you see yourself and your business in a few years?</b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />I
have been feeling a sense of anticipation for the past year that my
business is about to reach the end of its latest plateau and begin
climbing up to the next level again. My goal for the New Year is to
start it off with an agent and take my freelance up to the next level.
In the next few years I'd like to be working on large-scale commercial
illustrations and continue my financial stability of paying my bills
with my art work!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<div>
<u><b>What is the best and worst thing about being an artisan?</b></u></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The
best thing is seeing someone wearing your work on the street, or seeing
your work in print. Yesterday I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a
lady wearing one of my necklaces. I wasn't able to catch her to say
hello, but that warm fuzzy feeling stayed with me the whole day. Second
best is the schedule and freedom. I have almost complete flexibility in
my schedule and get to tackle projects that really excite and inspire
me! But on the flip side, working for yourself - and working as a
creative - often means putting in a ton of hours (and not always getting
paid for them). Most weeks I work 60-70 hours and barely leave my desk.
I find, though, that coffee with friends or taking a jog will refresh
my eyes and my mind, though!<br />
</div>
<div>
<u><b><br />What advice would you give to other artisans trying to sell their wares?</b></u></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My
professor has a saying, "Go as fast as you can for as long as you can
while the fire is hot." To be successful artist is to adopt a lifestyle,
and the lifestyle is going to require a lot of time, energy, and
personal investment. The lucky thing though, is that if you truly love
what you do, these things come as a natural inclination to grow.</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165655532/sale-art-print-full-color-illustration?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bn5X-vRVvA8/UmQ_CpytERI/AAAAAAAAC9A/uTdZxuNCg8U/s640/WalkingDead_SMALL.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<div>
<u><b><br />What is the most popular item you sell? </b></u></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since
we're in Atlanta, my most popular print is Rick Grimes from The Walking
Dead. This past Spring I had sent his agency 2 prints as a thank you
for the inspiration the show has given me -- I was shocked to have them
sent back to me signed by Andrew Lincoln himself! One says "Big Zombie
Love" and the other says "Best Wishes from the Zombie Apocalypse". It
was the coolest thing EVER.<br />
</div>
<div>
<br />
<u><b>What are your top five books, movies, musicians and websites?</b></u></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Favourite Books are the Game of Thrones series. I am a huge fan!</div>
<div>
My
favourite movies are all "guy" movies: Braveheart, Gladiator, Lord of
the Rings, Indiana Jones... I also love watching old black and white
samurai movies with my boyfriend. And I have a big soft spot for
Miyazaki (doesn't every illustrator?)<br />
</div>
<div>
As for music, my favourites include Dave Matthews Band and
The Black Keys. I was a Musical Theatre major, so I also love operas and
shows like Les Miserables, RENT, Phantom of the Opera, etc.</div>
<div>
<br />
<u><b>Where can we find you online and off?</b></u></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Website: <a href="http://erinmcmanness.com/" target="_blank">http://erinmcmanness.com/</a></div>
<div>
Etsy: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiribirdIllustrates" target="_blank">https://www.etsy.com/shop/<wbr></wbr>MiribirdIllustrates</a><br />
</div>
<div>
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/erinmcmannessillustration" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>erinmcmannessillustration</a> </div>
<div>
Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/miribirdillustrates" target="_blank">http://instagram.com/<wbr></wbr>miribirdillustrates</a><br />
</div>
Offline, my work can be found at Homegrown Boutique in
Decatur, and very soon at HodgePodge Coffeeshop and Gallery in East
Atlanta.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<i>Thank you so much Erin for taking the time to let us get to know you better! Please be sure to check her out online or stop by <a href="http://www.homegrowndecatur.com/" target="_blank">Homegrown</a> Boutique if you are in Atlanta!</i><br />
<br />
~ With Love, Ashlee ~<br />
<br /></div>
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Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-73527958117891399762013-10-15T23:23:00.000-04:002013-10-15T23:23:26.750-04:00Handmade 365At the beginning of October, I read about a project started by <a href="http://talesoftedandagnes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Tales of Ted and Agnes blog.</a><br />
<br />
To put it simply, the idea is to wear a handmade item everyday for a year and take a photo of it. It can be a scarf knit by your grandmother, a dress made by your extra crafty friend or a little piece of shine you created for yourself.<br />
<br />
I figured that since I spend all day every day making handmade stuff....this project has got to be a piece of cake, right?! Right? <br />
<br />
Well...taking a photo of myself wearing a pair of my handmade jewels has been a little bit less consistant than I hoped for, but they say that it takes 3 months to build a habit so hopefully I will be able to get this down soon. I have really enjoyed wearing a new item everyday though that I made. It has made me wear a variety of items, not just my old standbys (even though I create mounds of jewelry, I still wear the same five things over and over and over again). <br />
<br />
I've been at it for about a week now and have seven days of photos to share with you. I thought each week I would do a recap on the blog, but be sure to check out my <a href="http://instagram.com/mysweetnomsa" target="_blank"><b>instagram</b></a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mysweetnomsa" target="_blank"><b>facebook page</b></a> if you want to see the photos each day.<br />
<br />
/Day 1\<br />
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</div>
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<img border="0" height="494" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mJ8tH_-HsLM/Ul4AFPau37I/AAAAAAAAC74/Lc1INTQuAWo/s640/Day+1.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<br />
Rose gold Swarovski crystals with 14K rose gold filled earwires. Super sparkly and don't you just love the rose gold trend right now? Not available yet in my etsy store, but by the end of the week they will be all photographed and in stock.<br />
<br />
/Day 2\ <br />
<br />
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<img border="0" height="494" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsk1zwtozrI/Ul4AFdLfCTI/AAAAAAAAC8A/Cf6HFPwRZzI/s640/Day+2.jpg" width="640" /></div>
Vintage czech glass jewels with vintage gold plated hammered drops. These are deceptively light and I have them available in a few colors and wear them so often. These are one of my new favorites in my current rotation. Available in my<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/155214040/on-sale-mint-earrings-gold-and-mint?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"> etsy store here. </a><br />
<br />
/Day 3\ <br />
<br />
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<img border="0" height="494" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qRW0LjT0WCU/Ul4AGKFioRI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/O1iBYFagHLo/s640/Day+3.jpg" width="640" /></div>
One of the first pair of earrings I ever made for myself and my absolute favorite. These have light blue Peruvian opals which have been wire-wrapped in 14K gold and hang from thin, light earwires. These are the only ones available and they are all mine!<br />
<br />
/Day 4\<br />
<br />
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<img border="0" height="494" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i7GyQLYZSfI/Ul4AFjZ7HYI/AAAAAAAAC8I/rpQwgF6GeDw/s640/Day+4.jpg" width="640" /></div>
I made these just last week while playing around with some splashes of color. These are vintage brass dangles which have been hand painted with coral on top and fuchsia on the bottom. The ear wires are antiqued brass, so it has the mixed metal and color block trend going on. Available in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165082517/on-sale-hot-pink-earrings-coral-earrings?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">etsy store here</a>. <br />
<br />
/Day 5\ <br />
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<img border="0" height="494" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mpPFPv4MdxU/Ul4AGMqTlcI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/-sFTchUwfCw/s640/Day+5.jpg" width="640" /></div>
Sometimes it is best to keep these simple. This is one of those necklaces. Simple, sweet and perfect for everyday wear. A bright sparrow and 14K gold. Available in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165201464/on-sale-bird-necklace-gold-necklace?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">etsy store here</a>.<br />
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/Day 6\</div>
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I liked this necklace so much that I wore it two days in a row, messing up my goal of wearing a different item for each day of this project. That is how much I like it. The lotus flower is stamped into the sterling silver and the contrast with the oxidized metal and bright sterling really highlights the design. The chain and pendant are both sterling silver. Available in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165406634/on-sale-lotus-flower-necklace-sterling?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">etsy store here</a>. </div>
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/Day 7\ </div>
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I am really loving gold lately. I never really liked gold jewelry growing up and never thought that I would wear gold. Now....it is what I wear 90% of the time. I love the warmth of the color, I love how it looks on my skin and it really goes well with colors. These earrings have vintage lucite beads in a coral hue with the same gold plated hammered pendants that I wore a few days earlier. I am a creature of habit, what can I say? Available in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/155214566/on-sale-coral-earrings-gold-and-coral?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">etsy store here</a>.<br />
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So that about wraps up my first week into the project. I am really loving this idea and am going to try my hardest to stick to it. I think that it will help me grow as a jeweler as well as I get to create fun new pieces more often. <br />
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Have a great night everyone!<br />
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PS....I am having a 20% off everything sale in my etsy store, so all the pieces above aren't priced any higher than $20.80. Woohoo!<br />
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~ <br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-18608560811756693692013-09-05T23:46:00.000-04:002013-09-05T23:46:12.816-04:00Five Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>{five things I have a passion for}</b><br />
<b>1. </b>My husband. He is the central thing in my life and I always want to show him how much he means to me. <br />
<b>2. </b>Learning about history. I really love listening to podcasts and reading books to get a broader knowledge on all the random things that have occurred throughout time. <br />
<b>3.</b> Teaching. Perhaps it's because I'm bossy but I love showing people what to do.<br />
<b>4.</b> My puppy dog. Duh.<br />
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<b>5.</b> Yarn. Knitting. Anything involving yarn or knitting. <br />
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<b>{five things I'd like to do before I die}</b><br />
<b>1. </b>Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro has been on my bucket list since I watched an IMAX movie about it in the 10th grade.<br />
<b>2. </b>Buy/own/wear a pair of leather pants that look really amazing on (a teensy bit shallow but gosh darn it...I want it).<br />
<b>3. </b>Make babies!!<br />
<b>4. </b>Backpack through Europe and doing all the stereotypical touristy things like pretending to hold up the leaning tower of Pisa and being sung to in a boat by an Italian man in a striped shirt. <br />
<b>5. </b>I want to run the Easter Island marathon. <br />
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<b>{five books or magazines I've read lately}</b><br />
<b>1. </b>Winger by Andrew Smith<br />
<b>2. </b>The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters<br />
<b>3. </b>The Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver<br />
<b>4. </b>Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver<br />
<b>5. </b>The Fault In Our Stars by John Greene<br />
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<b>{five favorite movies}</b><br />
<b>1. </b>Donnie Darko<br />
<b>2. </b>Grease<br />
<b>3. </b>Life Is Beautiful<br />
<b>4.</b> Steel Magnolias<br />
<b>5.</b> Charlie Bartlett <br />
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<b>{five places I'd love to travel to}</b><br />
<b>1. </b>India is my number one destination right now. <br />
<b>2. </b>Masaii Mara Wildlife Reserve in Kenya<br />
<b>3. </b>All over Italy<br />
<b>4. </b>Costa Rica<br />
<b>5. </b>I really want to take my husband all along the west coast to where my family is from. He has never seen the redwoods or the beauty of Oregon and Washington.<br />
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<b>{five things I say alot}</b><br />
<b>1. </b>'I do what I want.' This is usually given as a sassy explanation to my husband about why I didn't do a chore or task like I said I would earlier.<br />
<b>2. '</b>Who do you think we are? The Rockefellers?' This is something that I picked up from my mom and once again, is said in a sassy voice whenever we talk about finances.<br />
<b>3. </b>I sigh a lot. Loudly and probably at inappropriate times. It's just a form of stress relief but it's kind of a ridiculous habit.<br />
<b>4. </b>'Who's got a big stick?' No weirdo...I don't say this to my husband but rather my puppy dog whenever he finds a stick in the backyard to play with.<br />
<b>5. </b>'I can't hear you.' My husband seems to always want to talk whenever I am brushing my teeth, doing dishes, washing my face, etc. I have my head near running water and he decides to talk to me about something from the other room. It happens without fail.<br />
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<b>{five blogs I love} </b><br />
<b>1.</b> <a href="http://theotherjuliette.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Other Juliette.</a> Such a funny and witty lady. If I could pick any blogger who I would be BFF's with, it would be with this gal (said in a completely normal and non-stalkerish sort of way). <br />
<b>2. </b><a href="http://itskaylalayla.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">It's Kayla Layla</a>. So this lady has only been blogging for like a month, maybe two but she is already one of the sassiest, funniest ladies around.<br />
<b>3. </b><a href="http://www.kissesandcroissants.com/" target="_blank">Kisses and Croissants.</a> If you have ever had the dream of going abroad, falling in love with a frenchman, marrying said frenchman and then moving to France permanently - read this blog. This girl did it and writes about being an American in France and all the fun things that come with marrying someone from a different culture/background/language. <br />
<b>4. </b><a href="http://www.heynataliejean.com/" target="_blank">Nat the Fat Rat (now Hey Natalie Jean).</a> She is a blogging goddess and made the cutest baby in the world. I love me some Huck!<br />
<b>5. </b><a href="http://hubbyjacksblogattack.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hubby Jack's Blog Attack!</a> The only male blogger that I read and the only one I will ever need. Think of Jim from the Office, and a little bit more attitude and you have Jack. <br />
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Find me on <a href="http://instagram.com/mysweetnomsa#" target="_blank">instagram</a>,<a href="http://www.facebook.com/mysweetnomsa" target="_blank"> facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/mysweetnomsa" target="_blank">pinterest</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mysweetnomsa" target="_blank">twitter</a>. Because I am cool like that.<br />
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-25470217613835307062013-09-04T23:09:00.001-04:002013-09-04T23:09:24.425-04:00Currently...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Reading - </b>This past weekend while camping I read two really enjoyable books. The first was this month's book for my 'Not So Young Adult' book club at a local bookstore. It was called 'The Shadow of Blackbirds' by Cat Winters and was a historical fiction/young adult/paranormal/mystery book all about the year 1918 with WWI and the Spanish Flu pandemic that swept through the US that year. It was also a ghost love story and I do love myself some ghosts. </div>
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The second book I read was called 'Winger' by Andrew Smith and I didn't know a thing about it when I started reading it. Didn't even read the blurb on the back or anything. Just liked the cover and went with it. It started out as an endearing and hilarious book and ended up being probably in my top 5 books of all time. I don't want to say anything about it really because I really think it is just better to go into it blind. You just need to know that it is a young adult fiction novel and from the perspective of a charming 14 year old boy. I have already told my husband that he has to read it during his winter break this school year.</div>
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<b>Watching -</b> I may be the only person in America still watching this show, but every week I watch 'Siberia' and hope that it either a) explains itself or b) redeems itself. I am so confused at what the heck is going on, mad at it for not divulging more plot, and disappointed in the writing....but yet I keep watching it each week to my husband's chagrin.</div>
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<b>Eating - </b>We got a little bit lazy in the cooking department these past two weeks with me being sick, going camping and then coming home to an empty fridge. As a result, we went out a bit and many of my favorite foods were eaten such as Chipotle, take-n-bake pizza, biscuits and gravy, ice cream, more pizza, Moe's burritos, fried green tomatoes, and more pizza. It's been a delicious two weeks for my belly but a bit sad to my saddlebags.</div>
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<b>Working On -</b> Our home has been a complete mess the past two weeks. This is one of the first years that we have lived in the same place two years in a row, so I am trying to do a deep clean of the place and doing all the sort of crazy cleaning you do when you are trying to get back your security deposit. But I am moving slow thanks to my business doing well and not so thanks to being sick. So this Saturday, my partner in crime has agreed to help me clean the ceiling fan blades, bleach our windowsills and take a toothbrush to our grout so we can finally get this place settled again.</div>
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<b>Thinking About -</b> One of my favorite memories from camping this weekend was bouncing around ideas and brainstorming with my husband about the book that I want to write. You guys have no idea how many good ideas John has. I swear, this book is going to be all of his ideas and my voice behind them. I now have pages of notebook paper with details on what I want this book to be about and where I want it to go. I still have a ton of gaps and content that needs to be filled, but I finally feel like I have enough of a concrete idea that I can actually put pen to paper.</div>
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<b>Listening To -</b> I don't know when it happened and I fully blame living in the South, but guys....I like country music. I can't believe it myself, but Luke Bryan has stolen my country heart.</div>
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<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong3955419156" name="gsSong3955419156" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=39554191&style=metal&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=39554191&style=metal&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=Luke%20Bryan%20That's%20my%20Kind%20of%20Night" title="That's my Kind of Night by Luke Bryan on Grooveshark">That's my Kind of Night by Luke Bryan on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object> </div>
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<b>Mantra -</b> I read this quote in a magazine over the weekend and I have seen it three other times since then. I feel like the universe is really trying to pound it in my head.</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/susanfarrington?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">via etsy</a></div>
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Am I alone in watching Siberia and do you have any good book suggestions? I need some new ones!</div>
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~ </div>
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Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-72461450797602613022013-09-03T21:09:00.000-04:002013-09-03T21:09:55.728-04:00Oh hey there...<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh hello. </div>
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After having a cold that knocked me off my feet for a week and then taking a long weekend to go camping, I haven't been around these parts much lately. </div>
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But after spending the weekend going 'balls to the wall' and eating a bag of non-vegan marshmallows and my body weight in guacamole, I am back with a vengeance (and a tummy ache). </div>
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<i>Sidenote: I ran 17 miles today and my body H.A.T.E.S. me right now. Feeding my body crap for a week and a half and then pushing it to it's breaking point with running makes for a sad Ashlee and sad tummy. </i></div>
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But back to more awesome things. Like camping with an adorable puppy and handsome husband. </div>
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If you don't remember, I recently wrote about my <a href="http://mysweetnomsa.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-last-time-i-went-camping-free.html" target="_blank">last camping experience here and our encounter with a bear.</a> Needless to say, I was beyond terrified to go camping again but decided to suck it up and went back into the woods armed with a bear bell and bear mace (which I bought off of a stranger I met online and had to go to a local gas station to get the goods/exchange money. Isn't the internet so weird?). </div>
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<i>Other sidenote: I am pretty sure my punctuation on that last sentence with the parenthesis was way off and I am sorry if that bothered you or you judged me for it. I get confused and flustered with commas and parenthesis. I have been told by many of teachers that I am too comma happy. </i></div>
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So besides having bear mace in hand and better flashlights than before (so I could peer into the woods every minute after it got dark), I still was unbelievably stressed out the first night. My anxiety level was at an all-time high and I honestly didn't fall asleep until the sun began to rise in the early am. From 8pm to 6am, I was convinced that a bear was sneaking up on me to maul me to death (or steal my marshmallows). Each night got a little bit better but I never did sleep through the night and had terrible nightmares when I did finally pass out. </div>
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Wait...wasn't I supposed to be talking about awesome things, not how much of a freak I am now about bears? </div>
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So on to the cool things...</div>
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/My husband made me some of his amazing guacamole to eat for lunch/dinner one day. I was in an avocado lover's heaven\ </div>
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/We stayed at a campground called Cooper's Creek and it definitely lived up to its hype for our black lab Cooper. PS...we may or may not have been swayed on staying there because of the name.\</div>
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<i>You can see the creek in the background on the right hand side of the photo. </i></div>
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/Cooper is a very good and appreciative camper.\</div>
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/Our camping trips consist mostly of reading, drinking, playing games and letting our inner pyros out.\</div>
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/On Monday, we hiked up a little bit of the Appalachian Trail which was a first for me and it was so incredibly beautiful. I have to remember that not all the pretty mountains are in Colorado. Although most are. Also, I get to cross this off of my <a href="http://mysweetnomsa.blogspot.com/p/52-in-2013.html" target="_blank">52 in 2013 list</a>.\</div>
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/Guys....fall's coming. And isn't nature so cool.\</div>
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I hope you guys had a great labor day weekend and are pretty much recovered from whatever mischief you found yourself in. </div>
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Linking up with <a href="http://www.samisshenanigans.com/2013/09/its-time-for-weekend-shenanigans.html" target="_blank">Sami for some Shenanigans.</a> </div>
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PS....I'm embarassared to say how many shots it took to get this pic and now looking at it....I don't look all strong and awesome, just awkward and constipated. </div>
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-13782797618774477982013-08-20T20:40:00.002-04:002013-08-20T20:40:36.721-04:00Marathon Monday (on a Tuesday) - 4th Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think this dog enjoys mocking me sometimes. I mean...I am supposed to be shaming him and he acts all bored and yawns. </div>
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He's all like 'whatevs Mom. I'll vomit all over your favorite yoga pants and then proceed to rub it into the mattress because I do what I want.'</div>
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Well besides cleaning up puppy vomit, I spent the day doing chores because we have been little piggies lately and this place needs a deep cleaning. I was *almost* half way done and then that little guy set me back a few hours with his added mess (by the way...that mound of laundry in the background was what was on the bed that I washed today and was trying to put away). </div>
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Have I talked about vomit enough for you yet? Yeah? Good. Let's move on. </div>
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I haven't done any sort of marathon training update in a bit, so I thought that I would fill you in on where I am at with my training, how it is going and whether or not I have pooped myself yet on a long run (hint: I haven't). </div>
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Last week was an 'easy' week meaning that I had four runs total and they were 4, 7, 3.5 and 11 miles in length. Every few weeks is considered an 'easy' week on our plan. Basically the long run for that week is a few miles less than the previous weeks so your body can do a little bit of recovery. In other words, three weeks ago my long run was 13 miles, two weeks ago it was 15 miles, last week it was 11 miles and this upcoming week's long run is 16 miles. </div>
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This week is week 8 of the 17 week training plan. I have only missed one run (I think) that I didn't make up the next day so on that front, I am doing WAY better than the last marathon training plan. I think only running four days a week is perfect for me. Giving myself three non-running days a week really makes me happy and seems to push me to actually get out and run. Knowing that once I run I get the next off is a lovely and motivating thought. </div>
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My running time is getting a bit better thanks to the cooler temperatures. I had a few long runs a month ago where I ended up at a 13:00 minute mile pace due to lots of walking and water drinking, but with my 8 mile and 11 mile long run last week where it was 70 degrees out when I ran, I averaged a 10:30 mile. I am curious to see how the 16 mile long run goes this week. I don't expect a 10:30 pace, but am shooting for an 11:30. </div>
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On the weight loss front, I have been hovering between 149 and 150 lbs still. I've been around this for about three weeks now and haven't really noticed any changes in my body. I did get into a bad habit of eating way too much for about two weeks when I was PMSing, so this week I am working on fueling my body, but trying to not overeat. I have set a goal of trying to get to 145 pounds by September 26th (our 4 year wedding anniversary). Hopefully with eating better and this increased mileage, I can get through this weight loss plateau with a healthy 1 pound a week loss. </div>
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Also, something that I need to work on is drinking a lot more water. I did great for a few weeks and was consuming over 100 ounces a day, but with the poor eating habits came poor water consumption. I didn't drink enough water yesterday on my 11 mile run and got so insanely dehydrated afterwards. I had to work at one of the boutiques I sell at and actually ended up vomiting (a green smoothie no less!) while working because I had such a bad dehydration headache/nausea. Drink your water kids!!</div>
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And that's the last time I talk about vomit in this blog post. Promise!!</div>
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I am getting back on track though and am right around 70 ounces for the day. I have to chug some water soon to help me reach my daily quota!</div>
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Can I just interject and say that I am so happy that I work from home because when you drink so much water, I love just being able to walk 10 feet to pee. How do you office workers do it? Does everyone just think you have a bladder infection or something? I would be so self-conscious about it and imagine that I would always talk about how much water I drink to my co-workers so they didn't think I was ill or something. </div>
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Back to running...</div>
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This week I am running 4 miles on Wednesday, 7 miles on Thursday, 4 miles on Friday, resting on Saturday with my long run of 16 miles being on Sunday. My long runs are usually on Saturday but I didn't do last week's long run until yesterday due to traveling so I am slowly moving my schedule around to get back to Saturday runs. </div>
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Along with that running schedule, I plan on adding strength training to my schedule twice this week on my 4 mile run days. I love the Jillian Michaels DVD, 'No More Trouble Zones' and will be doing that 45 minute DVD both days. I am hoping to get a little bit of muscle definition going and if I can handle the two times a week strength training sessions, I am going to add a third one in on one of my rest days. </div>
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So .... that's about it! I was thinking about doing a blog post in a week or two about what I am eating during this training period as a vegan. Just in case you were interested in how the heck I get my calories.</div>
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By the way, sorry for the lack of photos in this post. I look pretty bad whenever I am done running, so those sorts of photographs don't happen often, but here is a random photo of me in running clothes with my husband and mother-in-law at the end of June. </div>
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Kind of related to the post right? </div>
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Have a great night everyone!</div>
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~</div>
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<a border="0" href="http://thedomesticwannabe.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/14jsydk.png" width="180" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-13330517585305711392013-08-19T22:53:00.001-04:002013-08-19T23:04:57.597-04:00Oh hey...Oh hey....<br />
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how's it going?<br />
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Good? Good.<br />
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Didn't mean to step away from blogging last week but I didn't make my usual weekly schedule and it threw me all out of sorts. I still haven't made a weekly schedule for this week, but I plan on doing it first thing in the morning (pinkie swear husband) so hopefully this week is a little more productive and less chaotic than last week.<br />
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No real direction for this post, just a general sort of updates post with terrible transitions.<br />
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TRANSITION!<br />
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Last week I received an unexpected care package from my lovely sister-in-law. I am absolutely digging this new trend of people mailing me random gifts. Please continue this!!<br />
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I got some sweet pictures from my niece and nephew, Trader Joe's 'Just Mango' fruit slices (so delicious), beauty samples she had hanging out in her house, some fabric she thought I would like and an adorable running skirt.<br />
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Seriously...how cool is she? I am actually eating the last bit of those mango slices right now and you all need to go get yourselves some asap. <br />
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Also on Friday, I got another care package from my mom (well....it was mostly for my husband) but it included a box of wine (she knows how much I love myself some boxed wine) and some chocolates for me.<br />
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I ate all four pieces of chocolate in the time that it took me to find my camera and take a photo.<br />
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I inhaled it. <br />
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TRANSITION!<br />
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Thursday we headed back to Savannah for the weekend. Man oh man....did we miss it.<br />
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Friday I had a business meeting in my favorite place in the world.<br />
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Can I just go ahead and live in a yarn store now?<br />
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My husband and I like to play a game called, 'when we have money' and my future is always revolving around owning/working at/sleeping in a yarn store.<br />
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After my business meeting we went to the mall to buy my husband a new suit.<br />
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Did he need a new suit? No.<br />
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He has four perfectly good suits at home.<br />
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But during the packing of his clothes for this trip, he needed to bring along a suit for a fancy cocktail dinner on Saturday with the law firm he worked at over the summer. <br />
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He grabbed from his closet his pinstripe navy blue dress pants, his brown tweed wool dress pants and a different shade of navy blue sports coat.<br />
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Once we were unloading the car in Savannah at 11pm on Thursday we noticed the mistake and that he would look quite ridiculous in any combination of the three things, so we were faced with the dilemma of a 9 hour car ride or spending $160 on a new suit. <br />
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So we got to spend Friday doing his favorite activity ever (HUGE SARCASM) and buy him a new suit.<br />
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TRANSITION!<br />
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Saturday I did my hair for the first time since March. Meaning I spent 45 minutes blow drying and straightening it. Hair is so much work!<br />
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Since we had that fancy cocktail party to go to that evening, I didn't just want to throw my hair up in its usual ponytail. I wanted to look all pretty and grown-up.<br />
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We arrived at the cocktail party looking all fine but I was soon agast to learn that we were spending the entire evening outside.<br />
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OUTSIDE!! In 95% humidity.<br />
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My hair quickly went from sexy and sleek to this....<br />
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TRANSITION!<br />
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Last night we spontaneosly decided to go see some live music and we were rewarded with seeing the best concert of our lives from a band we had never heard of before. <br />
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<i>Sorry Backstreet Boys concert from 2000. You've been replaced in my heart. </i><br />
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The group was 'Band of Heathens' and the two main guys from the band were giving an acoustic performance last night and it was so good. Their voices were incredible and the song writing was top notch.<br />
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Here's a little taste...<br />
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The opening act was amazing too. The bass player was the absolute most happy guy that I have ever seen on the planet and watching him dance around and have fun was so contagious. John and I both had smiles on our faces after watching them for a half dozen songs.<br />
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TRANSITION!<br />
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Today we got our AC fixed. We actually haven't had AC all summer long and while it wasn't fun, we looked at it like an opportunity to cut our summer electricity bill a bit (glass half full kind of folks).<br />
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We had ceiling fans and one little fan we moved from room to room (a little white trashy we know) so we weren't too bad, but it was always around 82 degrees in our place. <br />
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We finally asked to get it fixed yesterday after coming back from our weekend away and being hit by the sticky heat of our home. The AC guy came today while I was out for my long run and I can't tell you how pleasant it was to come back home from an 11 mile run and to be greeted by a wave of cool air.<br />
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The AC confused my body though because I got all chilly while getting ready for work (it was set at 67!) so I left the house in jeans, a sweater and a hat and then looked like the fool walking around Atlanta when it was 80 degrees out.<br />
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TRANSITION!<br />
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Today was John's last first day of law school. Only one more year to go!<br />
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I bet it is going to go by incredibly fast.<br />
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Well....for me I guess since I don't have to do any work. Probably not so much for him.<br />
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That's about all the updates I have here. Linking up with <a href="http://www.samisshenanigans.com/2013/08/its-time-for-weekend-shenanigans_19.html" target="_blank">Sami</a> for her weekend shenanigan's.<br />
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Have a great night everyone! <br />
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-1437562280911220162013-08-13T12:48:00.000-04:002013-08-13T13:01:43.490-04:00Our Weekend at Summer CampPhew.<br />
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I don't know how you parents do it.<br />
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This past weekend, John and I took our 'Little Brother' to a summer camp sponsored by Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America (BBBS) and we are exhausted.<br />
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We got back late Sunday night, and here it is Tuesday at noon and I am still recovering from our weekend.<br />
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I am still slowly drinking my morning cup of coffee and we just spent a while searching Youtube for clips of Carlton dancing.<br />
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<i>We lead a busy and exciting life. </i><br />
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Anywho, this weekend was all sorts of fun and tiring.<br />
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We arrived at the summer camp around 11am on Saturday and did the usual icebreakers with the other 100 or so 'littles' and 'bigs.'<br />
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This basically involved us saying...<br />
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'My name is Ashlee and I would bring avocados to a picnic.'<br />
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'My name is John and I would bring jam to a picnic.' <br />
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Our little's two older sisters were at the camp which made him happy and John and I were the only married couple at the camp. With BBBS, you can be a solo 'Big' to a 'Little' of your gender or if you are married, you can do it together to a male 'Little.'<br />
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This was something we wanted to experience together and I am so glad we signed up for the program this way. I love seeing John interact with our 'Little' and just seeing how much of a positive impact our relationship on him.<br />
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Our first activity of the weekend was archery which our Little was soooo excited about. When we first told him about the camp a few weeks ago, this was the one thing that he kept talking about. I am glad it was our first activity of the weekend so he didn't have to wait any longer. <br />
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<i>Waiting ever so patiently </i><br />
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<i>Getting instructions... </i></div>
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<i>First shot and he turned out to be pretty good!</i><br />
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Can you figure out which one is me and which one is Katniss Everdeen?</div>
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Didn't think so. </div>
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Somebody had to shame us all with his perfect form. </div>
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After archery the rest of the day was filled with playing improv games, painting rocks, having 'Spirit' time which consisted of a lot of synchronized dancing and singing (which my husband purposefully hid from once he found out what it was), eating Smores by a campfire, playing carnival games, eating the 'vegetarian' dinner of white rice, going swimming in a big pool with a water slide, and participating in the 'Wacky Olympics' which was just a ploy to be covered by our Littles in hershey's syrup, shaving cream and applesauce. </div>
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As it got dark on Saturday night we discovered that this was going to be the first night that our Little has ever slept away from home (he has never even stayed the night at a friend's house), so there was a lot of tears and homesickness. </div>
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I was staying in a girl's cabin with one of his sister's so she helped me soothe him enough to stay at camp, but John had the adventure of sleeping with him in the boy's cabin that night. </div>
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Neither of them got very much sleep that night and as soon as it was light out (6am) they finally left the cabin and went to the playground to spend the next few hours until breakfast. </div>
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After breakfast we got to go fishing where our Little caught two fishes and John caught one too. </div>
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As John was the only male Big in our group for that activity, he had the pleasure of unhooking everyone's fish.<br />
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The rest of Sunday was filled with more 'Spirit' time along with playing games with other kids his age.<br />
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We left camp and headed back to Atlanta for our Little's first professional sports game. <br />
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We had some pretty amazing seats to the Braves game courtesy of John's mom and our Little enjoyed the game even though it was so hot that day.<br />
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After sitting in the heat for a few hours, we realized that thanks to our tickets, we had access to the club level at the Braves stadium and we found some seats in the shade and enjoyed the rest of the game from our new vantage point.<br />
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Our little was pretty emotionally and physically exhausted at this point and needed a little alone time.<br />
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When John and I saw this photo, we started singing<i> 'All by myself.......' </i>at the same time. <br />
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After we dropped off our Little at his house, we stopped by the grocery store, got a frozen pizza, a bottle of wine and a bar of dark chocolate and sat on our couch for the rest of the evening watching 'The Sopranos.'<br />
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After this weekend, we have vowed to never have teenagers and that we will force our children to go from age 12 to 21.<br />
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No inbetween for us, thank you very much. <br />
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~<br />
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<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.samisshenanigans.com/search/label/weekend%20shenanigans" title="Sami's Shenanigans"><img alt="Sami's Shenanigans" src="http://i.imgur.com/bN3GboQ.png" height="200" style="border: medium none;" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-82632536808351998032013-08-12T11:57:00.000-04:002013-10-19T18:15:03.960-04:00Interview with Pearl from Gray December<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I am really excited to get to share with you a newer etsy seller who opened up her store earlier this year. I first stumbled upon her shop when I saw a set of her ombre measuring cups pop up on the etsy main page. </div>
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I was instantly smitten and started adding so many of her store's items to my favorites. After reading her answers to my questions, I can tell she is going to be very successful on etsy. <br />
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I hope you enjoy getting to know more about her as much as I did!</div>
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P.S....Click on any of the photos in the blog to be taken to that item in<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayDecember?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank"> her etsy store!</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/128529930/ombre-purple-to-lavender-measuring-cup?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpcnpJFI0TQ/UgkATbmN1iI/AAAAAAAACvY/LsFwpIDyKbo/s1600/il_570xN.487240918_9erv.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmgfPWkTvWI/UgkA8oPuEZI/AAAAAAAACvg/_CNEWNF2oQA/s1600/il_570xN.477258583_s5t8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b>Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started. </b><br />
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My name is Pearl Sturtevant, I live in a little coastal town in California and I will be 20 years old this month.<br />
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I've always liked the idea of running my own business and being my own
boss. I started helping a friend of mine who has a successful pottery
business on Etsy with shipping her orders in early 2013, and became
interested in opening my own shop. My sister had also recently opened
her Etsy shop (<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GiselleNo5?ref=shop_sugg" target="_blank">GiselleNo5</a>) selling handmade clay stamps and was doing so
well, it was exciting to watch her business grow and see the joy she
was getting out of it. It's daunting though, to start your own business,
so without their pushing me to do it I probably never would have! But
on Febuary 19, 2013 I finally opened my little shop, GrayDecember,
selling hand painted pottery. I am so glad I did, I am slowly but surely
gaining confidence and listing more designs. I have had 14 sales so
far, including an order for 15 measuring cup sets! It is exciting to
send little pieces of yourself to places like Australia and Norway, I
love that Etsy allows me do that.<br />
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<b>Apart from creating things, what do you do?! </b><br />
<br />
I love to draw, play guitar, read and watch old movies. I have a big
family and am the youngest of seven sisters so spending time with
everyone is one of my favorite things to do, we have so much fun
together it's ridiculous! I love hanging out at their houses and playing
with my nieces and nephews.<br />
<br />
<b>Where does your inspiration come from? </b><br />
<br />
I love simple yet beautiful patterns, designs, and colors. Nature is a
perfect source of ideas, I have things in my shop that were inspired by
ladybugs, zebra print, coral, chrysanthemums, cherry trees and even
crocodile skin. <br />
<br />
Also, I get inspired by seeing what colors other people like and how
they use them. For example, I usually don't like mustard yellow but then
I look at my sister's kitchen where she has it paired with a gorgeous
vivid aqua blue and I love it! So now I have plans to do a measuring cup
set in those colors.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/156074491/chrysanthemum-flower-pattern-large-bowl?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmgfPWkTvWI/UgkA8oPuEZI/AAAAAAAACvg/_CNEWNF2oQA/s1600/il_570xN.477258583_s5t8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What does handmade mean to you? </b><br />
<br />
To me, handmade things are so special, unlike anything that ever comes
out of a factory. Handmade means enjoying the result of someone else's
creativity and ingenuity in your own home, and there is nothing as
beautiful as that.<br />
<br />
<b>How would you describe your creative process? </b><br />
<br />
It varies. Some days it involves blasting great 80's music and painting
whatever designs pop into my head, other times I carefully plan out
exactly what I want to do and ask others for input first. Both extremes
work well, so I just go with it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/126283706/black-and-white-damask-print-dinner?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DCdVF4ASNA0/UgkC2-EqfDI/AAAAAAAACvw/JdE3t8oqvkw/s1600/il_570xN.437397785_cny2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b>What handmade possession do you most cherish? </b><br />
<br />
Oh that's easy! When I was five years old I found an absolutely
beautiful hand carved wooden elephant with the most amazing intricate
imitation ivory inlays. It was buried in the field beside our house,
someone must have left it there or lost it. It is like nothing I have
seen before and I won't ever get rid of it. It is old, weathered,
imperfect and in places even broken, and I love it.<br />
<br />
<b>How do you get out of your creative ruts? <br />
</b><br />
Ask for ideas! I will often get stuck and feel like I have run out of
creativity. Whenever this happens I have found it is a huge help to ask
my family and friends "What should I paint on this?" They have ideas
that would have never occurred to me! My funky "Hungry Monster" dinner
plate was my sister's idea, it has been very popular and I would have
never thought of that! </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/127542887/hungry-monster-dinner-plate-red-black?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ah5kFc1v2Jo/UgkDOitVn1I/AAAAAAAACv4/VK95lpp8tL4/s1600/il_570xN.442093884_bzv3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b>Where do you see yourself and your business in a few years? </b><br />
<br />
I would love to have my own studio. I imagine a cute little workspace
packed with supplies and new designs, where I can be creative and not
have to worry about making a mess. I see myself branching out and
finding new things that people love. I am about to start a second Etsy
shop, called LittleMissive, that sells custom notes inside of hollow
painted eggs. I am excited to see how I can get creative outside of
pottery!<br />
<br />
<b>What is the best and worst thing about being an artisan? </b><br />
<br />
Being your own boss is the best but also the worst I think. I love being
able to do whatever I want and be creative but staying motivated is a
challenge. Sometimes I wish I had someone telling me to get things done!
<br />
<br />
<b>What advice would you give to other artisans trying to sell their wares? </b><br />
<br />
Honestly, it's all about the photos. I can't stress this enough! Never
underestimate the value of a great listing photo, it makes a WORLD of
difference. I have had items that weren't getting a lot of attention
even though they had been on Etsy for months. After I took a better
listing photo they have completely turned around and become popular.
Taking photos of your items can seem daunting but you don't have to be a
professional photographer to get great shots, all you need is
determination, looking to constantly improve, and willingness to
research helpful hints if you get stuck. And it doesn't have to be
complicated or expensive! The white background in all of my photos cost
me $2 to buy and make. It's just a white poster board taped to a L
shaped cardboard support. So simple and cheap but it looks amazing in
photos!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/128485920/pretty-pink-polka-dots-latte-mug-and?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kt1sV_BVv0M/UgkEBu1jKiI/AAAAAAAACwI/u5f8se0UR0g/s1600/il_570xN.445590901_smu7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b>What is the most popular item you sell? </b><br />
<br />
Hands down - my orange, coral and pink ombré measuring cups. I can't
make enough of those! They have been so popular I just can't believe it -
they have been featured on the front page of Etsy, in the Etsy email,
in several blog posts and websites, in the Etsy trending items, and were
even representing the entire Kitchen & Gourmet section of Etsy for a
while! It's funny to think that they were the result of a complete
accident, so to speak. I had almost run out of glaze and only had a
little bit of pink, red, orange and white to work with that day. So I
layered them on and they looked all blotchy and mottled and I thought
they would turn out terribly. But they came out of the kiln looking
really cool, and I listed them and I was shocked by how much everyone
liked them!</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/153484302/ombre-nesting-measuring-cup-set-of-four?ref=shop_home_feat" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TOJ-mXqDq4/UgkEXmckFMI/AAAAAAAACwQ/gcmuzWpa7IQ/s1600/il_570xN.467575006_nxck.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b>What are your top five books, movies, musicians and websites? </b><br />
<br />
Oh no..I can only pick five favorite books? <br />
<br />
A Good Year by Peter Mayle<br />
The Secret Life Of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd<br />
My Sisters Keeper (anything by Jodi Picoult really)<br />
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell<br />
The Color Code by Taylor Hartman<br />
<br />
I love singers like Micheal Buble and Ella Fitzgerald. A lot of my
favorite music is classical and oldies, with newer bands like The Fray
and Imagine Dragons thrown in the mix.<br />
<br />
I especially love old movies like Rear Window, How To Steal A Million, A
Room With A View, and You Can't Take It With You. (And pretty much
anything with Audrey Hepburn or James Stewart) <br />
<br />
Some of my favorite websites are (obviously) Etsy, Pinterest, and DeviantArt (where I post my drawings)<br />
<br />
<b>Where can we find you online and off?</b><br />
<br />
My Etsy shop - <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayDecember?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">GrayDecember</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/GrayDecember" target="_blank">Facebook</a>
<br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/pearltionne" target="_blank">Twitter</a>
<br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pearltionne/?d" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> <br />
<a href="http://pearlt.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">DeviantArt</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/156176935/geometric-square-pattern-latte-mug-and?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X_VKskA3a5E/UgkFK24x26I/AAAAAAAACwg/IpSBZeRnYZk/s1600/il_570xN.478838233_khpy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks so much Pearl for letting me interview you this week! I hope everyone is as impressed as I am with her pottery (I told you the ombre measuring cups are fantastic!) Stop by her etsy store or her facebook page and say hi!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Have a great day everyone!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ With Love, Ashlee ~</div>
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Before I begin this blog post, I just want to say that there are three parts to this ...<br />
1) The Backstory<br />
2) The Story<br />
3) The Free Knitting Pattern<br />
<br />
/The Backstory\<br />
If I had to voluntarily choose my spirit animal, I would most definitely choose a lion because they are awesome and have amazing hair.<br />
<br />
But in actuality, I seem to have a long and unavoidable connection with bears.<br />
<br />
At a young age, my father nicknamed me 'Bear' and that is what I was called all throughout my childhood. Family friends and relatives picked this up to, and no one ever called me Ashlee (unless I was trouble).<br />
<br />
My dad granted me the nickname because I apparently was a super cuddly and cute child but when I got angry, watch out cuz I turned into a bear. <br />
<br />
My husband's nickname for me is baby bear because he finds it adorable. I asked him at dinner tonight why he choose it for me and he couldn't remember a reason or story behind it....it just is my nickname because it's cute.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Personalized Baby Bear PJ's from a few Valentine's ago.</i></span><br />
<br />
Growing up in Colorado was beyond fantastic for me. My dad was incredibly outdoorsy and together we would plan camping trips, week long backpacking excursions and would hike 14ers (mountains over 14,000 feet) regularly each year.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Each time before we went camping, we would get bear mace at the local REI, he would show me how to safely keep our food out of animal's stomachs and my dad and I would have the most awkward conversations about when my 'time of the month' was going to be because you sure as heck don't want to go into the Rocky Mountains when you are walking target for bears to maul you (they are attracted to the scent of blood like sharks).<br />
<br />
(Sidenote: <a href="http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/menstruation_data.html" target="_blank">Here is a fun read about the attraction of bears to menstruating women</a>). <br />
<br />
So I grew up as a pretty experienced camper, hiker and all around awesome person :)<br />
<br />
/The Story\<br />
<br />
After living in various big cities on the East Coast with my husband for a few years, we were very excited to move to a state that had 'mountains' again (they aren't the Rockies, but they are better than nothing).<br />
<br />
We stocked up all the necessary camping supplies from Wally-Mart (cheddar wurst brats, a box of wine for me and plenty of marshmallows) and headed out to the north Georgia mountains to camp.<br />
<br />
John had read about a place online that he wanted to try that was a few hours away, so we took to the mountain roads in our Prius. The drive was fine and dandy until we came to the off-roading part. We ended up having to go a very cautious 10 mph along a curvy, boulder filled road and had to navigate slowly so we didn't scrape the bottom of our car in all the dips, but after a very long drive we finally made it.<br />
<br />
The camping spots weren't what I was used to in Colorado. In Colorado, you find a mountain, you build a camp. You find rocks to make a fire ring, you bring toilet paper to poop in the woods and you set up tent in the flattest area.<br />
<br />
Here we had parking spots at each camp site, already built fire pits, restrooms available for everyone in the campground and a special pre-flattened area for your tent.<br />
<br />
I scoffed at first and talked about how 'this wasn't really camping.'<br />
<br />
We ended up finding the only spot that actually had the campsite away from the main area. You parked, crossed a little stream and about 50 yards later there was campsite in the trees. You couldn't see anyone else and we were also really close to the restroooms (hey...if they provided them, I was going to use them).<br />
<br />
So we set up camp and did our typical camping ritual...eating, drinking, reading, playing games and trying to be the one who gets to play with the fire.<br />
<br />
It's how we roll.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
So anyway...first day and night went great. It was a beautiful place, we were having fun and I was making up for some lost time with my cheddar wurst brats (every camping trip I fall off the vegan/vegetarian wagon hard).<br />
<br />
So right around dusk on the second night, some fella walks into our camp and starts talking to John. John had walked down to meet him since we were a bit from the road so I couldn't quite hear what they are talking about.<br />
<br />
They talk for about five minutes and after he leaves, I ask John what he wanted.<br />
<br />
At this point, I can tell that John is choosing his words very carefully.<br />
<br />
He casually mentions to me that there was a bear that had walked into a campsite a few down a little bit ago.<br />
<br />
Cue me freaking out.<br />
<br />
I start being like, 'What?!?!?! What?!?!?! A bear?!?!?!?'<br />
<br />
John then proceeds to casually tell me that a family was eating dinner around the picnic table when a bear wanders into camp, walks up to their table WHILE they are EATING DINNER, climbs the table and steals their food.<br />
<br />
Cue me freaking out more.<br />
<br />
'Oh my god. OH MY GOD! We have to pack up. We need to leave!!'<br />
<br />
John starts to 'try' to calm me down telling me that it isn't a big deal, that the bear is more scared of us than we are of him, that he is going to leave us alone, we don't have any food out so he's not interested, blah blah blah.<br />
<br />
I am not listening at all to him at this point. I start to get a little bit of anxiety going to be honest.<br />
<br />
To calm me down, he pours me a big old glass of wine and tries to get me take my mind off of it by offering to play cards. I agree but I begin my mandatory bear watch.<br />
<br />
Did I mention that it is pitch black at this point because the guy walked in right at dusk?!?<br />
<br />
So every 5-10 minutes, even though it is pitch black, I scan the horizon with our cheap Wally-Mart flashlight, keeping my eyes out for a bear.<br />
<br />
(Sidenote: As I am typing this out right now, my heart is beating so fast because I am scaring the crap out of myself all over again).<br />
<br />
After about an hour, I flash my light over the horizon and I see two eyes staring RIGHT BACK AT ME from about 50 feet away!<br />
<br />
I start screaming and John immediately goes into super husband mode and starts banging shit, screaming 'HAH! Get out of here! GIT!' and running around trying to scare the bear off.<br />
<br />
My first instinct is to save my puppy who is completely baffled and scared beyond belief. We have him tied up to a pole so I start untying knots all while trying to keep my eye out for the bear.<br />
<br />
I get Cooper loose and grab the flashlight again. I scan the horizon and the bear has somehow sneaked up on us FROM BEHIND and is 20 feet away, about 3 feet from our tent.<br />
<br />
I do what one isn't supposed to do around a bear and grab the car keys and run as fast as I can with Cooper towards the car.<br />
<br />
As I am running the 50 yards, out of the woods come running (and I swear to jeebus on this) three shirtless rednecks holding PBRs and screaming, 'Bear? Did you all say BEAR?'<br />
<br />
Cooper and I get our butt into the Prius and I hear in the distance my husband and the three hillibillies yelling at this stupid bear. All I hear is drunken southern mountain redneck cussing and lots of noise.<br />
<br />
I am shaking I am so scared.<br />
<br />
After about five minutes, all four of them come running out of the woods. The bear hadn't left the camp really and keep duking into the woods to sneak attack them from a different angle. The guys grabbed some of our things and ran back to our car after realizing that this bear wasn't going to give up.<br />
<br />
My husband and I thanked our shirtless heros and I insist that we have to leave immediately.<br />
<br />
My husband makes the excellent point that we won't be able to pack up in the dark and that there is no way we can go down the dangerous mountain road at night in our Prius. I pout. I start shaking and I don't remember if I cried but I wouldn't be surprised if I did.<br />
<br />
We all three crawl into our Prius for the most restless, uncomfortable night of sleep ever. We obviously couldn't keep our AC running all night and when we cracked the windows the bugs came in via swarms and I was fairly positive that damn bear was going to come flip our Prius over. So we tried to relax, tried to get comfy in the ever so roomy prius and sweated the night out.<br />
<br />
We also had the pleasure of watching every single campsite pack up around us. Our commotion had been heard throughout all 30 campsites and in the morning there were only five or so camps left. Since everyone else had SUVs and they had campsites where they could park at, they got to use their headlights to pack up their site at 11:00pm.<br />
<br />
At the first break of light in the morning, I looked like someone on speed packing up that campsite. I was running around like a crazy person, trying to get the hell out of there. We finally hit the road after 30-45 minutes and I have refused to camp since.<br />
<br />
That was two years ago and we have been back up to the Georgia mountains twice and each time...I did the smart thing and insisted on a cabin.<br />
<br />
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<br />
As we were driving home from that camping trip, my husband called his parents to tell them about what had happened (he had already moved onto 'the laughing about it' stage while I was still in 'the anxiety attack' stage).<br />
<br />
A few days later we got a little present in the mail from them.<br />
<br />
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<br />
My very own bear bell. Apparently the jingling lets bears know where you are so they stay away...<br />
<br />
or maybe its so they know where to find you.<br />
<br />
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<br />
/The Free Knitting Pattern\<br />
<br />
Phew!<br />
<br />
Are you still with me?<br />
<br />
Barely? Well...let's make this worth your while.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>~ Bear Phone Cozy ~</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(want a printer friendly version <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wlnGheP73yVw8qoIMCkJmjQhLy3T2SxAToz8Ju5chfs/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>MATERIALS </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Yarn</u>: About 50 yards of Worsted Weight yarn. I used Lion Brand's 'Wool-Ease' worsted weight in Blue Heather.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Needles</u>: US Size 4 for Cast On (straight or double pointed), US Size 7 double pointed needles </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Crochet Hook</u>: Size G </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Notions</u>: Tapestry Needle, Stitch Marker, Pom Pom maker, felt or buttons for face </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>SIZE and GAUGE</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This pattern was originally made to fit a Motorola Defy XT phone. That phone is 4.5 inches tall x 2.3 inches wide x 0.5 inches thick. It is identical in size to the Iphone 4 and .3 inches taller than the Iphone 5. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This pattern can easily be adjusted to allow for taller or shorter phones while you work on the pattern. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My gauge was 5 inches wide by 6 inches tall per inch.<br />
</div>
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<b>DIRECTIONS</b></div>
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<b><i>BODY</i> </b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
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With the size 4 needles, cast on 28 stitches.</div>
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I used the knitted cast on (<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/faq/83.html?www=1&lbc=&language=" target="_blank">found here</a>), but if you have a different version you prefer, go hog wild.</span></div>
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<b>Row 1</b>: Using the size 4 DPN needles, join in the round and place a stitch
marker at the beginning of the round. Be careful not to twist. Spread the stitches as evenly as possible across your needles. </div>
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Do 1
round of K1, P1</div>
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<b>Row 2</b>: Transfer all the stitches to the size 7 DPN's with a round of K1, P1. After completing this round, you should be done with the size 4
needles and have all the stitches on the size 7 needles.</div>
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<b>Rows 3-6</b>: Knit 4 more rows in the K1, P1 repeat.</div>
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<b>Rows 7-34</b>: Knit all stitches<br />
(feel free to test out the size as you knit along, making it longer or shorter for your particular phone) </div>
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<b>Row 35:</b> Finish by a) binding off and seaming flat or b) graft bottom closed.<br />
I grafted the bottom closed on mine.<br />
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<b><i>EARS</i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Warning: I really can't crochet. I tried to knit numerous types of ears but they were all floppy and didn't look right. Only after fiddling around with crocheting was I able to come up with ears that I liked. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>With that said, I have never written any sort of crochet pattern before, so please let me know if any of this doesn't make sense or is written wrong.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILF6SlZr4gs/UgWnPZ25TCI/AAAAAAAACus/TYcYft6vHB4/s1600/09-IMG_1673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILF6SlZr4gs/UgWnPZ25TCI/AAAAAAAACus/TYcYft6vHB4/s1600/09-IMG_1673.JPG" height="640" width="504" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Using a size G hook, Chain 4, Join<br />
<b>Round 1:</b> Work 6 SC through the chain, <br />
<b>Round 2:</b> Chain 1, turn work around and go in opposite direction, do 2 SC in each of the next 5 stitches. - 10 SC total </span><br />
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Tie off and make another. <br />
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<b><i>BEAR BUTT</i></b><br />
Using a pompom maker (or cardboard) make a pompom about 1 inch wide. Leave a long pompom tail so you can easily sew it to the bear.<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NbCRSBIUmJA/UgWneZU71jI/AAAAAAAACu0/JirOm4OIR58/s1600/03-IMG_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NbCRSBIUmJA/UgWneZU71jI/AAAAAAAACu0/JirOm4OIR58/s1600/03-IMG_1569.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
<i><b>STRAP </b></i><br />
Get back out your size G crochet hook. Leaving about an 8 inch tail, do a chain of 20.<br />
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Do not join or anything, just tie off. You just want a chain.<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8IcdqGBMKXo/UgWoqJN2UdI/AAAAAAAACvE/lXZN_Lnzl3o/s1600/04-IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8IcdqGBMKXo/UgWoqJN2UdI/AAAAAAAACvE/lXZN_Lnzl3o/s1600/04-IMG_1574.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<b><i>ASSEMBLY</i></b><br />
1) Sew the ears to the top of the piece<br />
2) Sew the pom pom to the back side about half an inch from the bottom<br />
3) On the front side, double over the chain and attach it near the middle bottom edge. Once attached the chain will be looped around the pompom to keep the phone in the cozy (see above photo).<br />
4) Make adorable face out of felt, buttons or embroidery thread which only a mother could love. <br />
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Tie off knots, hide ends and stare at your masterful creation.<br />
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Email me at mysweetnomsa@gmail.com with any questions, concerns or
feedback. I would love to see photos of yours if you make it, so be sure
to check this pattern out on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bear-phone-cozy" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>!<br />
<br />
This pattern is for personal use only. Please don't sell anything made with it.
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Thanks so much for checking this out!<br />
<br />
~ With Love, Ashlee ~<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
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Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-3597623924090833732013-08-06T21:13:00.002-04:002013-08-07T08:08:42.302-04:00Knitting Inspiration - Sweater WeatherI don't think that many people who go for a four mile run in 90 degree heat and 88% humidity dream about wooly yarn and cozy sweaters the whole way.<br />
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But I did.<br />
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I love myself some yarn and sometimes while running I distract myself from the physical exertion of it all and just think of squishy yarn, pretty patterns and sweaters.<br />
<br />
I have actually never knit a sweater before. I have made baby sweaters, knit a shirt for myself and some shrugs...but no sweater for me.<br />
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I have a sweater actually waiting to be finished but it's been sitting in a bag for over a year but I couldn't tell heads or tails of it now and the idea of figuring it out just doesn't seem as fun as starting fresh with new yarn and a new pattern. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b0pq38JD-Q4/UgGU_CUz2wI/AAAAAAAACpw/BivnrAmrLDQ/s1600/IMG_9015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b0pq38JD-Q4/UgGU_CUz2wI/AAAAAAAACpw/BivnrAmrLDQ/s1600/IMG_9015.JPG" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
<i>My sad <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/liesl" target="_blank">Liesl by Ysolda Teague</a> just begging to be finished. </i><br />
<br />
I signed up for <a href="http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2013/07/summer-sweater-knit-along-handmade-in.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+luvinthemommyhood+%28luvinthemommyhood%29" target="_blank">LuvInTheMommyhood's</a> summer sweater knit-a-long where you have from July 24th to September 19th to knit a sweater, post photos, share your experience and win yarny prizes.<br />
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I have yet to cast on for this yet though because the thought of winding up my three hanks of Malabrigo Lace yarn by hand is ever so daunting.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDk6BJfS5wE/UgGWhNz_gyI/AAAAAAAACqA/7efbi5ncE5w/s1600/3439185800_8872f60795_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDk6BJfS5wE/UgGWhNz_gyI/AAAAAAAACqA/7efbi5ncE5w/s1600/3439185800_8872f60795_z.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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The pattern I plan on doing - <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/featherweight-cardigan" target="_blank">Featherweight Cardigan by Knitbot</a><br />
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Cardigans count as a sweater!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3-Y51C-8G0/Ua6J3SEP_uI/AAAAAAAACBM/TURG6ZXm-pk/s1600/42559Large_5ab4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3-Y51C-8G0/Ua6J3SEP_uI/AAAAAAAACBM/TURG6ZXm-pk/s1600/42559Large_5ab4.jpg" height="320" width="320" /> </a></div>
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My perfectly minty yarn which will become that sweater. </div>
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Even though I haven't even begun the above sweater I already have future sweater plans. </div>
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Big sweater plans. </div>
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It's totally reasonable and realistic to plan on knitting ten sweaters this cold weather season. Right fellow knitters?</div>
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Hear that husband??? Totally reasonable and I might even knit you a thing or two. </div>
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Maybe...I've got a lot for me to do first ;)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0AfBuW8vfxM/UgGaA6iytvI/AAAAAAAACqM/OcXOiBkUFAo/s1600/1-Etsy37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0AfBuW8vfxM/UgGaA6iytvI/AAAAAAAACqM/OcXOiBkUFAo/s1600/1-Etsy37.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
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Left to Right, Top to Bottom: <span id="goog_1031407372"></span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cobblestone-pullover" target="_blank">Cobblestone</a> / <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/owls-2" target="_blank">Owls</a> / <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oh-my-bear" target="_blank">Oh My Bea</a>r / <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blackberry-cabled-cardigan" target="_blank">Blackberry Cabled Cardigan</a> / <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/emmanuelle-sweater" target="_blank">Emmanuelle Sweater</a> / <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/plowman-cardigan" target="_blank">Plowman Cardigan</a> / <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metamorphosis-cardigan" target="_blank">Metamorphosis</a> / <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/watermelon-2" target="_blank">Watermelon</a> / <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/smokin" target="_blank">Smokin'</a> / <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/happy-days-3" target="_blank">Happy Days</a><br />
<span id="goog_1031407373"></span><br />
<span id="goog_1031407373"></span>See?!?! Totally doable. These are my first round draft picks for sweaters I want to knit up RIGHT now. <br />
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Back to reality, I have actually finished knitting a few things lately.<br />
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First, I finished my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/molly-9" target="_blank">Molly</a> hat!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIfp_a5hgCM/UgGdJfYizVI/AAAAAAAACqc/QAFb-zEEyWw/s1600/1-IMG_0791-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIfp_a5hgCM/UgGdJfYizVI/AAAAAAAACqc/QAFb-zEEyWw/s1600/1-IMG_0791-001.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9gkavXKJBCU/UgGdJyrT6KI/AAAAAAAACqk/zHSfu526R_w/s1600/1-IMG_0815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9gkavXKJBCU/UgGdJyrT6KI/AAAAAAAACqk/zHSfu526R_w/s1600/1-IMG_0815.JPG" height="640" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<i>oh howdy neighbor...I'm just hanging out in my curtains doing selfies. Don't mind me staring into your windows making weird faces. </i></div>
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I also had a couple little boy birthdays this past week, so I knitted up a few <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/babys-first-football" target="_blank">footballs</a> to send them. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p0VquzKox_g/UgGdKOXvSxI/AAAAAAAACqo/QHtlRuJCsfU/s1600/1-IMG_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p0VquzKox_g/UgGdKOXvSxI/AAAAAAAACqo/QHtlRuJCsfU/s1600/1-IMG_0937.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> In case you are wondering...I doubled the size of the pattern for the football to get something size appropriate for a 2-3 year old. </i></span><br />
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Last thing about knitting tonight (pinkie promise).... if I can figure out how to crochet an ear this evening, I will have a new pattern available tomorrow.<br />
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Now if that didn't pique your interest about the pattern, I don't know what will!<br />
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What are you working on right now? <br />
<br />
~ With Love, Ashlee ~<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"> <img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-52135945587984884072013-08-05T21:16:00.001-04:002013-08-05T21:16:48.132-04:00Marathon Monday - 3rd EditionAlright...well....let's just start this post off by saying that I don't want to come across as too negative....but I am not too sure how that goal is going to be achieved.<br />
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I'm kinda feeling like this...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmuAcNb6bio/UgBFI-A60wI/AAAAAAAACoI/3-LjM6TUv94/s1600/tumblr_m8gayn07eU1ql5yr7o1_400.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmuAcNb6bio/UgBFI-A60wI/AAAAAAAACoI/3-LjM6TUv94/s1600/tumblr_m8gayn07eU1ql5yr7o1_400.gif" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Sidenote: My husband is trying to cheer me up by periodically running into the room while I type this out and perhaps pretending to be Elmo? I am not too sure what he is doing, but I appreciate the effort). <br />
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I had a hard run this past week and it's shadow is still hanging over my head. My weight also creeped back up two pounds above the 'arbitrary' line that I set. Instead of actually gaining two pounds....I feel like I have gained ten.<br />
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I know that I am way too negative and hard on myself about my diet and exercise. This destructive thinking ultimately leads to unhealthy habits again. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ItIIAHXI66M/UgBHnzK-6FI/AAAAAAAACpY/OioNG38HEMI/s1600/tumblr_mbc0987MLf1ql5yr7o1_r1_250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ItIIAHXI66M/UgBHnzK-6FI/AAAAAAAACpY/OioNG38HEMI/s1600/tumblr_mbc0987MLf1ql5yr7o1_r1_250.gif" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YXzIcmarLx8/UgBHnHI4vnI/AAAAAAAACpM/nwstfyqfhlc/s1600/tumblr_mbc0987MLf1ql5yr7o2_250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YXzIcmarLx8/UgBHnHI4vnI/AAAAAAAACpM/nwstfyqfhlc/s1600/tumblr_mbc0987MLf1ql5yr7o2_250.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jnQtmHujirs/UgBHmv-84cI/AAAAAAAACpI/OvorTWNDYjk/s1600/tumblr_mbc0987MLf1ql5yr7o3_250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jnQtmHujirs/UgBHmv-84cI/AAAAAAAACpI/OvorTWNDYjk/s1600/tumblr_mbc0987MLf1ql5yr7o3_250.gif" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ApIluOY-GZ4/UgBHpHUwJPI/AAAAAAAACpg/qEBTUB3TPCk/s1600/tumblr_mbc0987MLf1ql5yr7o4_250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ApIluOY-GZ4/UgBHpHUwJPI/AAAAAAAACpg/qEBTUB3TPCk/s1600/tumblr_mbc0987MLf1ql5yr7o4_250.gif" /> </a></div>
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So yeah.... my 13 mile run on Saturday wasn't too much fun. It was around 87 when I finished and it took me much longer than anticipated. I ended up doing a 12 minute pace (which was 2 hours and 38 minutes total) and my goal was around 10:30. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hhu1HQavTX8/UgBFLUuE4dI/AAAAAAAACoc/M9K1kje7yhU/s1600/tumblr_me24vfCfOM1ql5yr7o1_400.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hhu1HQavTX8/UgBFLUuE4dI/AAAAAAAACoc/M9K1kje7yhU/s1600/tumblr_me24vfCfOM1ql5yr7o1_400.gif" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is about where I was mentally, emotionally and physically when I finished. </div>
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So for the next week, I have to run 28 miles total and my mental goal is as follows....</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0XFeqtrsoBA/UgBFOJmySUI/AAAAAAAACow/s5DsvG4GO44/s1600/tumblr_mh0941yPcQ1ql5yr7o2_250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0XFeqtrsoBA/UgBFOJmySUI/AAAAAAAACow/s5DsvG4GO44/s1600/tumblr_mh0941yPcQ1ql5yr7o2_250.gif" height="366" width="400" /></a></div>
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I need to be proud of what I've accomplished thus far and instead of thinking ...'geez...I was a bit slow on that 13 miles and gained two pounds back,' I need to think...'holy heck....I just ran 13 miles and I've lost 13 pounds since March!</div>
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So that's where I am right now. A little bit all over the place...but ultimately good. </div>
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Hope everyone is having a good Monday!<br /> </div>
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~ </div>
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<a border="0" href="http://thedomesticwannabe.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/14jsydk.png" width="180" /></a></div>
Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-44996494029135466122013-08-04T21:13:00.000-04:002013-08-04T21:13:13.639-04:00Interview with Julia from Red Bird InkI am so excited today to start a new series on the blog where I interview and showcase artisans I admire.
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Tonight I get to share with you Julia of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/redbirdink?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">Red Bird Ink</a> who lives in the Atlanta area and we both sell at <a href="http://www.homegrowndecatur.com/" target="_blank">Homegrown</a> in Decatur, GA. </div>
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Julia is just one of the most pleasant people to be around and the first time I met her, I babbled on for about 30 minutes straight because she is so nice and enjoyable (and a good listener)!</div>
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Her goods are extremely well made and she is just so passionate about her product. I loved reading her responses to my questions and I hope you will too!</div>
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PS....Click on any of the photos in the blog to be taken to that item in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/redbirdink?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">her etsy store.</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/153833503/bespoke-letterpress-stationery-25ct?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o1xRTlX8LLY/Uf72gVGw4bI/AAAAAAAACnY/c1eKGqGtTds/s1600/IMG_0287e.jpg" height="446" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started</b><br />
<br />
I took a dip into art school at the Corcoran and MICA then
meandered into a Landscape Architecture degree at Virginia Tech before
starting my own business. At first I just did illustration and design
then I got my hands on a letterpress… after the first time I was hooked!<br />
<br />
My business is called Red Bird Ink. We are an art, design and
letterpress purveyor in Decatur, GA. At Red Bird Ink we design and make
letterpress printed objects such as coasters, stationery, wedding
invitations and art prints from our own original art, illustration and
handset type. Our goal is to inspire curiosity and delight through the
objects we create!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/154492748/maidenhair-fern-limited-edition?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=fern" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s9j2tjuBp2M/Uf72elKUVFI/AAAAAAAACnU/5flASP3UTGY/s1600/2013-06-19+16.17.11e2.jpg" height="438" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Apart from creating things, what do you do?! </b><br />
<br />
I play ultimate frisbee with my husband Collin, hang out with our two
year old daughter Oriana, dabble with gardening, painting, home projects
and lots of cooking/eating with friends and family!<br />
<br />
<b>Where does your inspiration come from?</b><br />
<br />
I feel like I find inspiration almost anywhere. The top things
that seem to consistently influence my work are plants, landscapes and
cultural elements. Before I wash my clothes I have to be sure to check
all the pockets for hiding foliage. I'm often most inspired by learning
something new.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/112973865/woodland-fern-letterpress-coasters-4-ct?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpWvwFkZcMs/Uf72n-zTlvI/AAAAAAAACn0/-xLIVc7fvUw/s1600/IMG_2928.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>What does handmade mean to you?</b><br />
<br />
To me handmade is all about getting that twitch. A feeling that
inspires action to follow a train of thought from seed to stem. <br />
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<b>How would you describe your creative process?</b><br />
<br />
My process uses a combination of research, sketching, photography and
digital work layered and refined to reveal a unique perspective. My
hope is that the resulting object sings my personal song. <br />
<br />
<b>What handmade possession do you most cherish?</b><br />
<br />
Our wedding rings! They were made by an amazing Jeweler from my hometown, they are amazing.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/154495573/arrows-of-love-limited-edition?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HOL6msaeNmY/Uf72ck29K3I/AAAAAAAACnE/wxcE1ep6D7E/s1600/2013-06-19+16.31.57-2e2.jpg" height="522" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>How do you get out of your creative ruts?</b><br />
<br />
I like to go outside, look at plants, learn something new or
exercise. Yoga is always good for getting into a better state of mind.<br />
<br />
<b>Where do you see yourself and your business in a few years?</b><br />
<br />
I'm happy where I am now, but I would also be happy with a slightly
bigger business, more people to collaborate with and some other in house
production methods. <br />
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<b>
</b><b>What is the best and worst thing about being an artisan?</b><br />
<br />
I guess the best thing is I would be doing it anyway, even if it was
not my job. I just cannot separate the artist, designer part of me from
the rest of me. The worst thing is caring so much about it means I
have a hard time turning it off at the end of the day. Sometimes I
daydream about working a 9 to 5 and not have to think about work after I
leave…. then I remember almost no one has that type of job and if they
do it probably is not too fulfilling. <br />
<b><br /></b>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/43956257/fall-tulip-poplar-branch-letterpress?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RJ8bDazTSZk/Uf72eujieoI/AAAAAAAACnQ/EPZgsLQ4WEw/s1600/2013-07-17+12.18.40e.jpg" height="414" width="640" /></a></div>
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</b><b>What advice would you give to other artisans trying to sell their wares?</b><br />
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Do what you love and what inspires you. <br />
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<b>What is the most popular item you sell? </b><br />
<br />
The numbers coasters and cable knit stationery have been the most popular items.<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/58546928/letterpress-numbers-coasters-set-of-10?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E6ckabATTP4/Uf72lziAg_I/AAAAAAAACns/Qie8vRugVwA/s1600/IMG_0654e.jpg" height="552" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>What are your top five books, movies, musicians and websites?</b><br />
<br />
whoa! Hard to choose. <br />
<br />
Adore Prodigal Summer by Barbra Kingsolver<br />
Enjoy stand up comedy, cheesy/funny/sweet movies and suspenseful mysteries<br />
Can get lost for hours browsing Etsy, design sponge & pinterest<br />
I feel like I could melt into Zoë Keating's music<br />
<br />
<b>Where can we find you online and off?</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.redbirdink.etsy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.redbirdink.etsy.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.redbirdink.com/" target="_blank">http://www.redbirdink.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.redbirdink.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">http://www.redbirdink.tumblr.<wbr></wbr>com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/redbirdink" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>redbirdink</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/redbirdink" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/<wbr></wbr>redbirdink</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/redbirdink" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/<wbr></wbr>redbirdink</a><br />
<a href="http://www.supermarkethq.com/redbirdink" target="_blank">http://www.supermarkethq.com/<wbr></wbr>redbirdink</a><br />
<a href="http://thebeehiveatl.com/collections/red-bird-ink" target="_blank">http://thebeehiveatl.com/<wbr></wbr>collections/red-bird-ink</a><br />
<br />
In Real Life…<br />
<br />
- Atlanta, GA -<br />
Steve McKenzie<br />
Le Petite Marchet<br />
The Beehive Atlanta<br />
<br />
- Decatur, GA -<br />
Homegrown<br />
<br />
- Dunwoody, GA -<br />
Spruill Gallery<br />
<br />
- Charlottesville, VA -<br />
Rock Paper Scissors<br />
<br />
- Richmond, VA -<br />
Paper Plus<br />
Quirk Gallery<br />
<br />
- Portland, ME -<br />
K. Colette<br />
<br />
- Chicago, IL -<br />
Greer Chicago<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/124500717/thank-you-letterpress-flat-cards?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ3nnPZzPUQ/Uf72lVYfmpI/AAAAAAAACnk/CuA-KnyfysU/s1600/IMG_0322e.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thank you so much to Julia for being a part of this post today and I hope you all enjoyed getting to know this designer. Check out her etsy store or if you are near any of the stores she sells at, swing on by!<br />
<br />
~ With Love, Ashlee ~<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-10910390706145699582013-08-03T17:41:00.001-04:002013-08-03T17:41:42.235-04:00Weekend Reading...<div style="text-align: center;">
Between hanging out in my backyard for far too long sniffing my bacon-making neighbor's air and running 13 miles today...I am all tuckered out. </div>
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All the big plans that I had for today (clean my ENTIRE house, make us at least a $1000 and then if I had time probably change a few people's lives with my kindness) have evaporated into laying on my couch, moaning about how tired I am and watching 'The Sopranos.' </div>
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So here is my list of things to read/do this weekend if you find yourself with a few minutes to spare....</div>
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<a href="http://nymag.com/thecut/2013/07/madonnas-diet-is-the-hardest-i-have-ever-tried.html" target="_blank"><b>'Madonna's Diet Is The Hardest I Have Ever Tried.'</b></a></div>
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A reporter tries to live by Madonna's eating rules for a week and sarcasm ensures. </div>
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Just a tidbit from the article - 'One time Madonna told <a href="http://allaboutmadonna.com/madonna-interviews-articles/spin-january-1996"><em>Spin</em>’s Bob Guccione</a>
Jr. that “straight men only think about how you may dominate them in
some way and make their dicks shrivel up or something.” In that
aggressive yet very fun spirit, I start my day off with corn in a
plum-paste sauce.' </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/things-anyone-from-colorado-will-naturally-understand" target="_blank">'36 Things You Will Naturally Understand If You're From Colorado.'</a></b></div>
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As a transplanted Coloradoan, I <i>get</i> this list. </div>
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So if you live in Colorado and didn't see it on your Facebook newsfeed this past week, check it out. </div>
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="buzz_superlist_number_inline">"18.</span> At some point, Casa Bonita made you think that cliff diving was a viable career option."</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nnh9whMjxCY/Uf10WYYt-KI/AAAAAAAACmA/mlqYDB7WACI/s1600/enhanced-buzz-9085-1374585479-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nnh9whMjxCY/Uf10WYYt-KI/AAAAAAAACmA/mlqYDB7WACI/s1600/enhanced-buzz-9085-1374585479-6.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Truth</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.iworeyogapants.com/2013/07/male-species-i-just-cant.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"Male Species I Just Can't"</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">The ever so funny Whitney did a blog post about guys she dates. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">You know...cuz it's funny to categorize whole groups of people. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PnZQHbobg0s/Uf11mgzOj1I/AAAAAAAACmQ/klSkQ-hHEeM/s1600/25397403915.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PnZQHbobg0s/Uf11mgzOj1I/AAAAAAAACmQ/klSkQ-hHEeM/s1600/25397403915.gif" height="354" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sorry single ladies that this is what you deal with. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Lastly, I might be making myself some vegan <a href="http://networkedblogs.com/NwSB6" target="_blank"><b>coconut bacon</b></a> this weekend. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cyhBwPr2ktk/Uf13Y53fERI/AAAAAAAACmo/wgGjZFQrZHw/s1600/tumblr_m9kvcaD8bF1ql5yr7o1_400.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cyhBwPr2ktk/Uf13Y53fERI/AAAAAAAACmo/wgGjZFQrZHw/s1600/tumblr_m9kvcaD8bF1ql5yr7o1_400.gif" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <a href="http://tmblr.co/ZjsrOxSRa8Ex" target="_blank">via</a></span></i></div>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">It's coconut flakes with bragg's amino acids, liquid smoke and maple syrup and supposedly is a vegan substitute for bacon. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GK66MhMJpis/Uf12EukPuFI/AAAAAAAACmY/4qOOKNCnEsY/s1600/coconutbacon-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GK66MhMJpis/Uf12EukPuFI/AAAAAAAACmY/4qOOKNCnEsY/s1600/coconutbacon-2.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Let's just say that I am not getting my hopes up....but OMG....what if I found the perfect substitute for the baco's I used to eat straight out of the container as a kid!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s7d6draDW1w/Uf14EtpikqI/AAAAAAAACmw/RYf49F4QQ80/s1600/5183TZRF7TL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s7d6draDW1w/Uf14EtpikqI/AAAAAAAACmw/RYf49F4QQ80/s1600/5183TZRF7TL.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Hope y'all are having a great weekend thus far! I have big plans as you can see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">~ With Love, Ashlee ~</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-25216190062496952732013-08-02T21:36:00.000-04:002013-08-02T21:36:54.033-04:00High Five For Friday!<div style="text-align: center;">
It's Friday and it's not just any ordinary Friday guys. </div>
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I received a care package from my mom (yeah...I'm 27 and I still get care packages from my mom) so it's basically like Christmas morning over in the 'My Sweet Nomsa' duplex. </div>
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So here's a special edition of the 'High Five For Friday' based upon what we received in the most random care package ever!</div>
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I went out to get the mail and practically tripped over the box the mailman had left for me all booby trapped on our front porch. </div>
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I squealed, grabbed my husband and insisted that my puppy had to be in the room for this monumental event. </div>
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I grabbed the pair of scissors that are designated to only be used with boxes and tape (any one else like this? I have like 7 pairs of scissors, each allotted to a certain task. OCD much?).</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6k3lIVRHlsg/UfxXRvGeYzI/AAAAAAAACk8/eqZWMXZ8wFs/s1600/1-IMG_1490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6k3lIVRHlsg/UfxXRvGeYzI/AAAAAAAACk8/eqZWMXZ8wFs/s1600/1-IMG_1490.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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My first thought was this.....'YARN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YARN, YARN, YARN!' </div>
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Followed shortly by...'why did she send me so many razors? I'm not that hairy.' </div>
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With my husband asking...'Is that a used towel in there?' </div>
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We quickly started sorting through things. I naturally went for the yarn first and got that out of the way so we could dig into the deep box. I then reached for the used towel and started holding it up and examining it. It is a fancy super absorbent towel that supposed to like suck all your water off, but it was definitely used recently. </div>
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I put that in the dirty clothes basket. Um....thanks mom?!?!</div>
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After the yarn and towel were out of the way, my husband started making 'ooohhhhing' sounds and lo and behold, the best thing that could have ever been in the care packaged for him was in there. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VyNMZl0sdIk/UfxXax70-QI/AAAAAAAAClE/hexFaG2tfKk/s1600/1-IMG_1494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VyNMZl0sdIk/UfxXax70-QI/AAAAAAAAClE/hexFaG2tfKk/s1600/1-IMG_1494.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Somebody has a big weekend planned now thanks to his large bottle of scotch. Thanks Randy for including it in the box! Definitely made John's day. </div>
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Cooper was next to get his present. My mom couldn't forget about him. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a1EwkL267Ag/UfxXbbc9qoI/AAAAAAAAClU/cpdRhUpbv5M/s1600/2-IMG_1501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a1EwkL267Ag/UfxXbbc9qoI/AAAAAAAAClU/cpdRhUpbv5M/s1600/2-IMG_1501.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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He was so excited for his 'steak' bites that he couldn't sit still. Also, I had to use my masterful photo-shopping skills to remove his puppy boner. </div>
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What can I say, the pup loves himself some 'steak' bites!</div>
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So after going through the box and pulling everything out, this is what we ended up with....</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5faHxjkWEC8/UfxXbXv7SLI/AAAAAAAAClQ/uf3n9WAnmiY/s1600/3-IMG_1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5faHxjkWEC8/UfxXbXv7SLI/AAAAAAAAClQ/uf3n9WAnmiY/s1600/3-IMG_1509.JPG" height="552" width="640" /></a> </div>
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From left to right, top to bottom: a used super absorbent towel, hello panda cookies!, scotch for the husband, puppy treats, three sport bras that my mom purchased for herself but never tried on until after they were washed and found out they were too small so I got them (thanks for bragging about your chest size mom), Candyland Band-aids?, a very happy broom and dustpan set, new toothbrushes, 7 razors!, a box of tea, a bag of onions grown from her garden, and a mickey mouse t-shirt. </div>
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So a bit random right? </div>
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I also got some aprons from her vintage apron collection which I am in love with. They have such incredibly darling details. </div>
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I walked into the kitchen to find John cooking dinner and sporting one of the organza floral aprons. </div>
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Last but not least in our care package was 'the pièce de résistance.'</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kiUVmcWeAJU/UfxXioISiPI/AAAAAAAACl0/Epa9tmJX1iM/s1600/6-IMG_1539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kiUVmcWeAJU/UfxXioISiPI/AAAAAAAACl0/Epa9tmJX1iM/s1600/6-IMG_1539.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Two gallon sized ziploc bags full of unwanted samples from Birchbox boxes, sephora gifts, ulta freebies, etc. </div>
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There is so much stuff here. Mascara, soap, BB cream, make-up remover, matte face powder, hair products, etc. </div>
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You guys...I am going to look like a baby after I use all the face cream, sunblock, skin correcting creams that I got. </div>
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My mom hates perfume too, so I got about a dozen different perfume scents to try out. </div>
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I am pretty sure I am going to need to create an excel spreadsheet or something to try to manage my new beauty regime. </div>
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So all in all....my mom rocks. She is a good puppy grandma, a great mother-in-law and an amazing mom!</div>
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Well...I'm off to shave because apparently I am hairy beyond belief. </div>
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Have a great night!</div>
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-37634329176101927692013-07-31T21:51:00.000-04:002013-07-31T21:51:55.037-04:00Currently....<b>Reading:</b> So many good books lately! I got the first book of the Delirium trilogy from the library and flew through it. I just picked up the second book today and am excited to delve into it tonight.<br />
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While I was waiting for it to become available, I started reading 'You Shall Know Our Velocity' by Dave Eggers and really like it so far. I am only about 30 pages in but it has grabbed my attention. It is described as if Holden Caulfield had been a child of the frequent-flyer era, he would have found fellow travelers with the main travelers who ping-pong around the world. <br />
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Also I recently signed up for <a href="http://goodreads.com/">Goodreads</a> and now my library queue is incredibly ambitious and probably unattainable. </div>
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<b>Listening:</b> Spotify has seemed to have gotten this idea that I really enjoying listening to prepubescent rappers from the UK so my radio stations are filled with people like <a href="https://play.spotify.com/artist/2ajhZ7EA6Dec0kaWiKCApF" target="_blank">Rizzle Kicks</a>.<br />
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I am not hating this assumption by Spotify. I have been enjoying listening to raps about headmasters and how cool their new white trainers are.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKx7p8wgb8U/Ufl-6eCfcPI/AAAAAAAACkk/l-rb47bFqP4/s1600/Rizzle-Kicks-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKx7p8wgb8U/Ufl-6eCfcPI/AAAAAAAACkk/l-rb47bFqP4/s1600/Rizzle-Kicks-006.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Anticipating: </b>My husband and I are 'Bigs' in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program and in two weeks we are taking our 'Little' on his first camping trip. It's with the organization and they have some cool things planned like archery lessons, boating, a trust building ropes course and of course...plenty of roasting marshmellows over a fire. Our Little is soooo excited about this and to top it off after our weekend of camping, we got some free tickets to go see the Atlanta Braves that Sunday night (thanks Diane!) which will be our Little's first pro game ever. His head may explode from all the excitement. <br />
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<b>Eating: </b>Tonight we splurged with a spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, mushroom & onion pizza. We also got some beer for my husband and for me some $3.00 wine and of course .... dark chocolate with sea salt.<br />
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<b>Working On: </b>Having a clean kitchen before bed each evening. I don't want you to get the impression that I am a pig or anything but sometimes after dinner when we load up the dishwasher, there are a few miscellaneous things hanging about because we ran out of room. Instead of leaving it in the sink for the next morning, we have been washing those last few things by hand. We've been doing this for the past two weeks and it has been so nice to walk into a kitchen with a completely empty sink each morning. It's weird how little things like this make you feel good.<br />
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<b>Loving: </b>Summer vacation for my husband. Since we have been together, he has never had a traditional '9-5' job. He is the type of person that enjoys working 80 hours a week and can do it pretty effortlessly (well...minus the drinking of 40 oz of coffee a day). This summer though, he has had a regular hour job which means in the evening we get to cook together, play a few rounds of checkers and take Cooper on plenty of walks. Our weekends are actually weekends too which doesn't happen very often during the school year.<br />
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<b>Making Me Happy:</b> My husband putting a container of tennis balls in our cart at the grocery store for Cooper, getting woken up by a puppy dog licking my face, running for six miles in the rain, being praised for the hard work I am putting into my business, having old clothes fit again and reconnecting with old friends. <br />
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-85375869514754523732013-07-30T21:39:00.001-04:002013-07-30T21:39:51.150-04:00Some Things You Might Not Know About Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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1) I hiccup. A lot. An unnatural amount really.<br />
Usually my hiccups are singular and they are so loud and sudden that they end up startling the puppy, the husband and myself. <br />
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2) My desert hierarchy is as follows:<br />
Pie < Ice Cream < Cupcakes < Cake < Cookies.<br />
Cookies always win.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yOGyabAZOk/UfhnyFJeGnI/AAAAAAAACjk/MJyMZBDn90A/s1600/2-IMG_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yOGyabAZOk/UfhnyFJeGnI/AAAAAAAACjk/MJyMZBDn90A/s1600/2-IMG_0838.JPG" height="640" width="436" /></a></div>
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3) My first job was at Target and I have never worn red and khaki together since then.<br />
Never ever.<br />
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4) If I ever get a tattoo, it will be a quote from my favorite book 'East of Eden' by John Steinbeck.<br />
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5) I prefer to sleep at a diagonal angle across the bed much to my husband's dismay. <br />
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6) I took five years of French along with one year of Italian in college and all I got from it was how to spot anything with <i>fromage</i> (cheese) on the menu and how to ask for the 'water closet' (bathroom).<br />
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7) When I was 17, I pierced my belly button like four hours before an eight hour flight from Hawaii to San Fran to Denver.<br />
Terrible idea.<br />
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8) The foods I love and eat the most are avocados, raspberries, oatmeal, watermelon and kale. <br />
(My husband thinks that this point should just be avocados, avocados, avocados, avocados and avocados).<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L28Ih4mNIAM/UfhoQyQylmI/AAAAAAAACj8/n0KjyOru-tY/s1600/7-IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L28Ih4mNIAM/UfhoQyQylmI/AAAAAAAACj8/n0KjyOru-tY/s1600/7-IMG_0891.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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9) I am terribly skittish around and afraid of balloons and rubber bands. <br />
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10) All of my first pets were named after foods.<br />
Oatmeal the cat, Oreo the cat & Smore the beagle.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkPJwYfv7F8/UfhoKL80PcI/AAAAAAAACj4/Y6p5Tvk2l2Y/s1600/4-IMG_0869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkPJwYfv7F8/UfhoKL80PcI/AAAAAAAACj4/Y6p5Tvk2l2Y/s1600/4-IMG_0869.JPG" height="640" width="498" /></a></div>
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Dress: Forever 21 / Shoes: Target</div>
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Infinity Bracelet: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/155241952/infinity-bracelet-gold-charm-bracelet?ref=shop_home_active">My Sweet Nomsa</a> / Coral Earrings: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/155214566/coral-earrings-gold-and-coral-earrings?ref=shop_home_active">My Sweet Nomsa</a></div>
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-12753087237696931802013-07-29T22:14:00.000-04:002013-07-29T22:36:08.876-04:00Marathon Monday - 2nd EditionSo I am officially done with month one of marathon training and so far, so good.<br />
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No injuries, no heat stroke in the Georgia summer sun and I am still enjoying my training.<br />
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I don't know what it is about this round of marathon training, but it feels so different from the training I did last fall.<br />
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I am just enjoying it more I guess and I am doing better. I am only running four days a week this time (I did five days a week last time) and I haven't missed a day yet whereas last time, I made up a lot of excuses for missing days and got really behind on my schedule making for a terrible marathon experience.<br />
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In some related news....I finally saw a number on the scale that I haven't seen in a few years which was pretty darn exciting. I have been below this number for four days straight now and I am hoping that by the weekend I might be down even another pound. Right now, I am under the weight I was when I graduated college and when I lose another eight pounds, I will be at the weight I was when I graduated high school/when I was a fitness instructor in college. <br />
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<i>Some photos of me from sophomore & junior year in college. That right there is the physique I am trying to get back. </i><br />
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I think that the vegan diet, eating clean and eating as cheaply as possible (lots of beans, grains, greens, fruits & no wine, chocolate or extra treats) have really helped me lose a few pounds this past month.<br />
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I do lose weight veryyyyyyyyy slowly (go away saddlebags!)....but here's hoping that by eating better and moving more, things will come together in a few months. <br />
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(Sidenote: we just had an impromptu dance party to Ice Cube in my house thanks to the Sublime pandora station).<br />
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I was talking to my mom last week about running and she mentioned that I must get terribly bored when I go for my 2-3 hour runs. <br />
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I do sometimes, but I am an avid podcast listener, so I thought that I would share some of my favorite podcasts (which you can download for free from the Itunes store) in case you needed some good listening material while you exercise, do some household chores or work from home making jewelry :)<br />
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/1\<br />
RISK<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpS9pzjyY2s/UfcU4cNeb9I/AAAAAAAACik/hP_asMyMXwg/s1600/risk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpS9pzjyY2s/UfcU4cNeb9I/AAAAAAAACik/hP_asMyMXwg/s1600/risk.jpg" height="400" width="400" /> </a></div>
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This is hands down my favorite podcast in the world. The best way to describe it is a combination of story-telling, spoken word & stand up. The stories are real, sometimes heart breaking, other times a bit raunchy, usually funny and are well told. Episodes either have one long story (40 minutes) or 3-5 shorter stories (10-20 minutes per story) and the story tellers range from ordinary people who have a crazy story to share and then there are comedians like Sarah Silverman or Lisa Lampanelli or Michael Ian Black.<br />
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This past week I listened to a story that actually had me crying while I was running along and other weeks I have been laughing my head off like a crazy person while running because the story is so funny and I can't contain my excitement. </div>
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Check out RISK in the <a href="http://www.apple.com/itunes/?cid=OAS-US-DOMAINS-itunes.com" target="_blank">Itunes store</a> or on their <a href="http://risk-show.com/listen/" target="_blank">website</a> and just look for a title that interests you. I started listening to this podcast when it first started four years ago and have listened to every episode. You will not be disappointed. </div>
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(Any of the stories with Elena Baker are pure gold).</div>
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/2\</div>
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Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s9WpLMBc6qA/Ufca2-FEXqI/AAAAAAAACi0/1wuDaEDiUkA/s1600/NPR+Programs+Wait+Wait+Dont+Tell+Me+Podcast+NPR+Programs_+Wait+Wait+Dont+T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s9WpLMBc6qA/Ufca2-FEXqI/AAAAAAAACi0/1wuDaEDiUkA/s1600/NPR+Programs+Wait+Wait+Dont+Tell+Me+Podcast+NPR+Programs_+Wait+Wait+Dont+T.jpg" /></a></div>
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If you listen to NPR, you are completely aware of this awesome weekly current events game show, but if not...<a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/" target="_blank">listen now</a>. </div>
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Each week you have a celebrity panel (hats off to my personal favorites of Paula Poundstone & Alonzo Bodden) and special celebrity guests (last week was Jim Gaffigan, but others include Neil DeGasse Tyson, Martha Stewart & Ed Helms) that answer silly quizzes based on random weekly news. </div>
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It's pretty funny and definitely makes the time go by quick because you can get lost in thought while trying to answer all the questions correctly in the lightening round. </div>
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You can <i>almost</i> forget that you are running 15 miles.</div>
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This past year for our wedding anniversary, we actually went and saw the taping of one of their shows when they did a live show at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, GA. It was so fun to see the behind-the-scenes action of this podcast. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ndRkVm4mm2s/UfcmEUR6SmI/AAAAAAAACjM/7RABYflxAvY/s1600/525980_10101143999128473_1578080474_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ndRkVm4mm2s/UfcmEUR6SmI/AAAAAAAACjM/7RABYflxAvY/s1600/525980_10101143999128473_1578080474_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Us last September on our 3rd year wedding anniversary at the Fox Theater</i></div>
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/3\</div>
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Stuff You Missed In History Class</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRCWfrn3mXI/UfcbSuCjr8I/AAAAAAAACi8/JNjixwYS_9U/s1600/tumblr_mihcco4l2U1qghfy5o1_r1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRCWfrn3mXI/UfcbSuCjr8I/AAAAAAAACi8/JNjixwYS_9U/s1600/tumblr_mihcco4l2U1qghfy5o1_r1_400.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.howstuffworks.com/" target="_blank">How Stuff Works</a> is an awesome website owned and operated by the Discovery Channel. On it are thousands of well researched and thought out articles on completely random questions/topics. </div>
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Some examples I saw today are...</div>
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* <a href="http://geography.howstuffworks.com/oceans-and-seas/dead-sea-dead.htm" target="_blank">Is the Dead Sea really dead?</a></div>
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* <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/10-silly-inventions-that-became-wildly-famous.htm" target="_blank">10 Silly Inventions That Became Wildly Famous</a></div>
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* <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/why-men-have-nipples.htm" target="_blank">Why Do Men Have Nipples? </a></div>
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How Stuff Works also produces over a dozen separate podcasts a week. I listen to three of them, but my personal favorite is <a href="http://shows.howstuffworks.com/stuff-you-missed-in-history-class-podcast.htm" target="_blank">'Stuff You Missed In History Class.'</a> </div>
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You get to listen for 20-40 minutes on one subject matter and the ladies really break it down for you. It is super interesting and I have learned about things like 'Lizzie Borden and Her Axe,' 'The Disappearance of the Lindbergh Baby,' & 'Who Was The Real Dr. Frankenstein.'</div>
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This podcast really makes you stellar at the history questions on Trival Pursuit. </div>
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I hope you found a new podcast or two to listen to, but if you are more of a music fan while sweating, here is my current playlist for when I run. </div>
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Lots of upbeat, fast songs with catchy hooks. </div>
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<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="250" id="gsPlaylist8896056997" name="gsPlaylist8896056997" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/widget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&playlistID=88960569&p=0&bbg=3e0363&bth=3e0363&pfg=3e0363&lfg=3e0363&bt=ffffff&pbg=ffffff&pfgh=ffffff&si=ffffff&lbg=ffffff&lfgh=ffffff&sb=ffffff&bfg=666666&pbgh=666666&lbgh=666666&sbh=666666" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/widget.swf" width="250" height="250"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&playlistID=88960569&p=0&bbg=3e0363&bth=3e0363&pfg=3e0363&lfg=3e0363&bt=ffffff&pbg=ffffff&pfgh=ffffff&si=ffffff&lbg=ffffff&lfgh=ffffff&sb=ffffff&bfg=666666&pbgh=666666&lbgh=666666&sbh=666666" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/playlist?q=Running%20%20MySweetNomsa" title="Running by MySweetNomsa on Grooveshark">Running by MySweetNomsa on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object>
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Linking up with Ashley from 'The Domestic Wannabe!'<br />
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<a border="0" href="http://thedomesticwannabe.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i41.tinypic.com/14jsydk.png" width="180" /></a><br />
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Have a great Monday everyone!<br />
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869955296261982922.post-62822959751633936612013-07-25T21:47:00.002-04:002013-07-25T22:21:48.374-04:00Around The Studio - 2nd Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This week I ... </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i3-u_89E-c0/UfHRdUa-nxI/AAAAAAAACgk/Y94hp-CA244/s1600/04-IMG_9428-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i3-u_89E-c0/UfHRdUa-nxI/AAAAAAAACgk/Y94hp-CA244/s1600/04-IMG_9428-001.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Awed over my husband's masterful excel spreadsheet skills as he made me perhaps one of the greatest spreadsheets to ever exist. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojapGhNLl28/UfHRZMTAUFI/AAAAAAAACgU/8FoMOtzyV88/s1600/03-IMG_9393-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojapGhNLl28/UfHRZMTAUFI/AAAAAAAACgU/8FoMOtzyV88/s1600/03-IMG_9393-001.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Took some photographs modeling a pair of earrings per customer request.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GN_XRj4GQM8/UfHReit3-dI/AAAAAAAACg8/8VR1-k86lnw/s1600/07-IMG_0717-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GN_XRj4GQM8/UfHReit3-dI/AAAAAAAACg8/8VR1-k86lnw/s1600/07-IMG_0717-001.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Worked on a bridal jewelry order for some lucky bridesmaids!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OcsfKNCfJ6Y/UfHRginAC-I/AAAAAAAAChc/TmvTzGYbJAk/s1600/1-IMG_0776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OcsfKNCfJ6Y/UfHRginAC-I/AAAAAAAAChc/TmvTzGYbJAk/s1600/1-IMG_0776.JPG" height="532" width="640" /></a></div>
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Got incredibly excited about some new jewels I found. Big, bold and triangle. Expect some pretty stellar earrings in next week's post! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UoWi8qP7TC4/UfHRdt8kF6I/AAAAAAAACgs/MFHISd8rm3k/s1600/05-IMG_9622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UoWi8qP7TC4/UfHRdt8kF6I/AAAAAAAACgs/MFHISd8rm3k/s1600/05-IMG_9622.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Had to deal with a creeper while I was photographing/modeling some bracelets in my curtains. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0vFNu2wpXA/UfHRnSGXxwI/AAAAAAAAChk/GWdH1rN4rzA/s1600/1-Etsy36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0vFNu2wpXA/UfHRnSGXxwI/AAAAAAAAChk/GWdH1rN4rzA/s1600/1-Etsy36.jpg" height="640" width="494" /></a></div>
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F.I.N.A.L.L.Y got all these bad boy knitting needle bracelets photographed and they are now available in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MySweetNomsa?section_id=6745369" target="_blank">my etsy store!</a> </div>
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Seriously....my love of jewelry and knitting combined into one form. </div>
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Bliss. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jFV9arEGTEQ/UfGyYMoWLBI/AAAAAAAACf8/VwX4w0lQiuE/s1600/IMG_20130725_161530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jFV9arEGTEQ/UfGyYMoWLBI/AAAAAAAACf8/VwX4w0lQiuE/s1600/IMG_20130725_161530.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Took a few walks to the post office to drop off packages. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IIHauSTzNpI/UfHRePmDIaI/AAAAAAAACg0/uEymi2mxgDE/s1600/06-IMG_0679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IIHauSTzNpI/UfHRePmDIaI/AAAAAAAACg0/uEymi2mxgDE/s1600/06-IMG_0679.JPG" height="534" width="640" /></a></div>
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Photographed and added a lot of new <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MySweetNomsa?section_id=6745389" target="_blank">bridesmaid jewelry sets to my etsy store.</a> </div>
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Not a bride? Don't worry, you can buy them <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/157792875/personalized-bridesmaid-necklace-custom?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">solo</a> :)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tICK_-t2Ps4/UfHRfWQKvXI/AAAAAAAAChE/RGKuUo9kmN4/s1600/08-IMG_0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tICK_-t2Ps4/UfHRfWQKvXI/AAAAAAAAChE/RGKuUo9kmN4/s1600/08-IMG_0749.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Had a business meeting at a yarn store (not a bad location)! </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9qCFMHvLv70/UfHRfuQenMI/AAAAAAAAChM/98B2-Jlwxjg/s1600/09-IMG_0752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9qCFMHvLv70/UfHRfuQenMI/AAAAAAAAChM/98B2-Jlwxjg/s1600/09-IMG_0752.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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The meeting went well so I am so excited to announce that you can now buy my knitting needle bracelets at the newest retailer selling my wares. If you live in the Atlanta metro area, check out the<a href="http://www.lovinknitstudio.com/" target="_blank"> Lovin' Knit</a> yarn store in Marietta for the bracelets as well as pick up some yarn from their awesome selection. </div>
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~ With Love, Ashlee ~ </div>
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4953591" title="Follow My Sweet Nomsa on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://www.bloglovin.com/widget/bilder/en/widget.gif?id=4953591" /></a>Ashlee!http://www.blogger.com/profile/14333942685183516079noreply@blogger.com0