Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Apples and Anyones.

Hello there! Have you missed me yet? Life has been crazy, from starting a new job to arguing with dirty neighbors to new discoveries in cooked and baked goods. I am telling you, life is full of things that you never even dream about. There is so much potential in what you can do in life. 24 hours can bring so much time (or sometimes, or rather, most of the time, no time AT ALL) and having a full time job, three dogs and another full time business can have me rolling around in circles begging for some order.

My wonderful boyfriend gifted me a Motorola Xoom Android-powered tablet a few months ago and I must admit, I was a little bummed it wasnt an iPad (listen to little ole spoiled me...). The Apple interface is so beautiful, so clean. So effortless. This tablet seemed like a huge mess. He bought it for me so I could organize myself better and be able to mobilize my documents without having to carry around a computer with me (so heavy and risky, and knowing my clumsy self I would probably drop it in a puddle somewhere, lol). I neglected the poor little tablet for a few months. Kept it in a drawer hidden. Took it out every once in a while to see if there were any new updates.
It was just there. Existing.
Until I discovered this amazing website/Cloud based app called Dropbox. Now I know what you are thinking...."WHAT WORLD DOES THIS CHICK LIVE ON?!!?" Yes, I know. But don't think that I heard about it till just now, I had downloaded it into my iPhone about 2 months ago and hadn't really tried it out. Underestimated its full capacity and capabililty to assist me in so much. Then I found out that my tablet can have Dropbox also! OMG. I have died and gone to synch-me heaven. And to think that the first 2GB are free. Honestly, unless you are uploading and storing pictures in this app, you really don't need more than that. I know I don't. Jeez, I should get paid for saying all this. Then again, I sometimes expect to get paid even when I am on the can. Obviously not happening.

I should learn to blog more. I like blogging. It is such a release. I admire those people who can blog every single day. I will make sure to find time to write more often (I have the blogger app on my tablet! Yeay!) 

Thank you for reading...if there is anyone reading...anyone out there? Lol. It's okay. Maybe this can become my not-so-private private diary online? :) I will be back tomorrow (maybe.) Lol.

Peace out homies. Live long and prosperous.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

So Belated.

It has been a few months since my last blog post. I know, I know. Where is the passion?!? Being self-employed and having my other half in a war-zone (Afghanistan) has been a bit difficult and worrisome recently. Money has been short and has not allowed me to buy beautiful new stones and materials to make new jewelry pieces. It makes me sad. Yet, I need to set my priorities straight...I have been dedicating my days to working out and eating healthier. It is a completely new lifestyle, although I do admit that I have been sneaking in a few cookies here and there every once in a while.

My boyfriend Martin left to Afghanistan back in March. He was finally granted his R&R for August to come home for two weeks. Seeing the love of my life in person after so many months was so beautiful :) We went to the beach, pool, movie theater...I cooked for him and he cooked for me. We arent perfect. We have our arguments, just like any other couple. And we had one while he was here. Then we spent four days out of his 15 here not speaking to each other. It was horrible. But we got over our pride and talked it over. It is our determination to make things work that lets me know and reassures me that we will have a great marriage (when he comes back :))
He left again back to Afghanistan yesterday. Very sad. But I think that it gets easier each time he leaves.

"It's not only rainbows and butterflies, it's compromise that moves us along" -Maroon 5.

That's it for now folks :) Hope to write back again soon. I'll be sure to!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Gym time and a Little Ray of Sunshine.

Hey everyone! I hope that this Monday has brought everyone a positive outlook on the week ahead.
I am currently home, with my brother watching Red Riding Hood. It looks awesome so far, but honestly, Amanda's Seyfried's bug-like eyes have always kinda freaked me out a bit.
I am glad that I am finally taking a rest, my day has been somewhat one that felt like it would never end.
I woke up early, around 7am. And decided that today would be the day that I would go to the gym, for the first time in about 3 years. I used to have a gym in the old apartment building that I used to live in, but it was very run down and had one treadmill that worked when it felt like working.
I decided to take advantage of a 7 day pass for LA Fitness that was given to me a few weeks ago. I went, I saw and I conquered! It was an awesome workout, and I thought that I wouldn't last long as I worked up a sweat on the elliptical machine, but it was so exhilarating and my Skrillex tracks were a major motivation. I shot some hoops after doing a few weight machines, it brought me back to my high school days when I was co-captian of the varsity basketball team. Good times....
I went to the supermarket right afterwards to keep my healthy pace on track. Bananas (product of Honduras, of course, the best!) apricots, fresh Romaine lettuce, skirt steak and fresh Fuji apples. I bought this delicious White Chocolate Peanut Butter by Peanut Butter and Co. and I eat it with apples. HIGHLY recommended. I am always bugging my brother because he is allergic to peanut butter and I don't think that he understands what he is missing out on. I actually feel really sorry for him.
Anyways, I paid my groceries and went straight to the post office to drop off some orders that came in during the weekend :)
Stephen was ecstatic when he saw the skirt steak I had purchased, and asked if I could make it then and there. I love my little brother, so I happily obliged to his request.
Skirt Steak, medium well. Texas toast. Buttery corn. Can't beat that.
And for desert, of course, ice cream....Cookies and Cream to be exact. Delishh.

I'm still feeling really good about the event that I participated in yesterday. I was asked on Saturday by a friend that I used to work with to participate in an arts and crafts fair that her church was participating in.
I have participated in about two of these already, and had sworn to myself that I would never spend money on these types of events again. They usually do not go well for me since people go to those places
expecting to find cheap finds and "splurge" on that. Nevertheless, I agreed to go and take my jewelry.
I didn't pay a cent for the table but instead agreed on donating a portion of my earnings to the church. I was there at 7am sharp and left around 2. The sun was brutal, and I was wearing this beautiful cluster necklace and now I have a white ring of skin where my necklace was. It's a pretty funny sun tan. But the event was actually a good outcome! I was pretty happy with the results. I was elated to see how interested people were when they saw my new earrings from my bridal collection. I sold a few of those. I sold many of the old bracelets that I have been trying to get rid of for a while....and for me, that is always an accomplishment to be proud of.

Take a look a these pictures from the event:
Enjoy :)






Saturday, June 9, 2012

Sweet Caroline Creations

For those of you who don't know, I am a jewelry designer, maker, lover. 

It took me a while to come up with a company name, but when I came up with Sweet Caroline Creations, I knew that it was absolutely perfect. Caroline is my middle name and my father used to sing Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond to me when I was a baby. It was perfect. 


Sweet Caroline Creations was born in 2011 when I saw a lady that I worked with selling single stringed beaded bracelets for $40 each and thought to myself: "I am extremely creative, I can make something much nicer than that and for much less!" I personally believed that $40 for one stretch bracelet was a little too much, and they weren't even that great. That same day, I purchased $200 worth of beads online and could not wait to receive them, so I immediately went to a nearby bead store right after work. I somewhat went completely crazy when I walked in. My blood went up to my head, I got really hot, it was a deliciously exhilarating rush throughout my body and at that single moment I knew that making jewelry is exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was completely moved by the smoothness and vibrant-ness of each stone, briolette and crystal. My time with jewelry making has been the most fulfilling of my 25 years of life. I am completely self-taught and have been handcrafting beautiful colorful pieces for the last two years.





Ever since I started making and selling my popular cluster bracelets, I have taken great pride in making a product that is classic and not something that everyone else is making. Each piece is original, and takes a long time to make! I pay great attention to the detail and color combinations to use for each piece. I always get compliments at craft shows and art fairs and I really have never seen jewelry quite like mine! 




I am currently self-employed and want to expand my business and possibly open my own storefront within a few years. For now, I will continue to make beautiful handmade jewelry in the comfort of my home :)I have my own website, and also sell on Etsy...if you wish to take a look :) 


Thursday, June 7, 2012

Welcome! :)


Big ol' Texas hair, 5 year-old toddlers whipping out words that only adults would use, and four lazy canines all clutter up my living room as I write this. Yes, four dogs and as you probably can(not) imagine, they all snore. Some have nightmares at times and look as if they are having a seizure with their eyes slightly opened and pushed back into their sockets. It is kind of scary if you ask me. My darling angels are all boys. Miko, a lovable yet slightly slow Miniature Schnauzer can spend hours staring at you just so you can pick him up and lay him on your lap. He has never been able to climb up the sofa by himself... He is the type of dog that makes you wonder if mental retardedness exists in dogs. (Must I remind you that most mentally challenged children are the sweetest and most affectionate of all). Butters, a Maltese mixed with a half Bishon and half Chihuahua is a snaggletoothed little piece of heaven. He tends to bark his little heart out at times, and if I recall correctly, destroyed several doggie beds in his puppy years. Yet, as he has grown older, all he wants to do is cuddle and sometimes climbs to the top of the couch and scratches my head...he is all about making his mommy happy. Max, Butter's younger brother from the same parents but from a different litter, is shy of a year old..and everything you would expect from a puppy. Loud, hyper, lovable. His preferred hair cut at the groomer's is the Teddy Bear cut, and my OH MY! he looks so handsome when he gets it done. And the fourth pooch, is Mia, another mini Schnauzer whom I am doggie sitting for a few weeks as my mother and brother are overseas in my home country of Honduras.
Honduras: for those of you who don't know, is the gorgeous country that is smack in the middle of the Americas. And I don't mean The United States, because I am know for a fact that many people believe that "America" is only the USA. No darlings, America, is made up of North, Central, and South America. This is something that has honestly always ticked me off...but knowledge must be shared so there you go! Honduras is beautiful and has an abundance of natural resources and fascinating people. And if you ever have a chance to book a cruise to the Caribbean, go to Roatan. Most cruise lines have ships that go there, and it is our little island gem off the north shore of the country. The beaches are covered in delicious-in-between-your-toes white sands and the snorkeling in the pristine water can't be beat. If you have money to blow, stay there a few nights and check in at the Palmetto Bay Plantation Resort, the have superior beach front villas and the best margaritas with the best staff.
So, dear readers, if you are out there...somewhere....I will be saying adieu on my very first post in The Adventures and Creations of Yours Truly....Good night! :)