Friend Makin' Mondays ~ Yes or No?

It's been months since I've participated in Friend Makin' Mondays or even written a blog post... Today seems as good a day as any to jump back in so here we go! To join in, visit the fabulous Kenlie at All the Weigh!

FMM: Yes or No?

1. Do you use coupons? Yes! I'm just starting to learn how to use coupons combined with in-store specials to maximize my savings. I absolutely love Extreme Couponing, and while I don't see myself ever having a stockpile that takes up my entire basement, I do think there is a lot that can be learned from the show about saving money!
2. Do you like football? Umm, not so much. But don't tell my boyfriend! =)
3. Are you in a relationship? Yes. I've been dating an amazing man named James for about four months. I'm completely crazy about him. It took us a long time to find each other, but he was so worth the wait.
4. Is your phone always within arm’s reach? Almost always. The only time I don't have it on me is when I take Daisy on walks, which is probably really silly because I should have it in case of emergency... It's just nice to feel "not connected" for a little bit each day though.
5. Do you like thunderstorms? Yes, as long as I'm inside and don't have to drive anywhere!
6. Can you cook? No, not at all. James is a fabulous cook, which doesn't give a lot of incentive to learn... A couple only needs one cook between the two of them, right?
7. Are you – or have you – lost weight? Yes.
8. Do you know how to read a map? Not really. That's what my former Eagle Scout beau is for! =)
9. Do you wear makeup? Yes, almost every day, but if I'm feeling lazy, I'll skip the eyeliner.
10. Do you read regularly? Yes. Since I quit my day job and am fully self-employed, I've had so much more time to read. I love it!
11. Are you publicly affectionate? Yes, very much so.
12. Do you like picnics? Yes, but it's been years since I went on one.
13. Do you have a/c? In my car, yes. In my apartment, no. In the Pacific Northwest, there's really only one week a year that we even need a/c, so most houses and apartments don't have it. We just suffer majorly that one week when it's actually hot here!
14. Have you ever been out of the country? Yes, but only to Canada and Mexico. Kinda lame... We have big dreams of honeymooning in Europe. We'll see! ;)
15. Do you know how to ride a bicycle? Yes, but I haven't been on a bike in more than 20 years. Long story, but I was in a bad bike accident when I was nine and lost my permanent front teeth as a result. It kinda soured bike riding for me!

Happy FMM to all!

Friend Makin' Mondays ~ Everyday Things

It's been a LONG time since I've done a FMM, but this one was short and sweet, and it seemed like the perfect way to rejoin the party! Visit Kenz to learn more!

Here we go ~ Everyday Things!

1) What is your favorite part of an average day? My favorite part of the day is when I get a “good morning, baby ” text from my sweetie ~ usually between 7:45 and 8:30.



2) Is there one food that you eat every single day? If so, what is it? I have some sort of chocolate every day ~ I usually start the day with a chocolate Vitatop, which is surprisingly filling! And I always have Andes mints in my pantry, so I munch on two or three of those every day too. I’m a certified chocoholic.



3) Are you an early bird, or do you prefer to sleep in late? I’m an early bird ~ usually up by 7:30 on the weekends. Lately, I’ve been up pretty late on Friday and Saturday nights though, so if I can, I sleep in until 9 or so. But I always feel guilty when I get up that late ~ it feels like I’ve wasted part of the day!



4) Share one thing that you're looking forward to doing this week. My new beau, James, and I are going salsa dancing Saturday night with two of our good friends who recently became a couple. It’ll be a nice change from our usual Saturday night out at the country bar.



5) What's for dinner this evening? I have a ton of orders to work on tonight, so dinner will be simple ~ Red Baron’s cheese and garlic French bread pizza (which is really just fancied-up cheesy garlic bread) and salad. I love a meal I can just toss in the oven ~ pizza is a definite staple in my diet.

Happy FMM, everyone!

Garter of the Week ~ Gorgeously Glam Garter in Petal Pink and Hot Pink with Swarovski Crystal and Marabou Feathers

I thought it would be fun to start a new post featuring a new garter every week. Each week's garter might be one of my bestsellers, a new design, or a personal favorite. And best of all, the featured garter and its set will be 10% off in my Etsy shop for the entire week!

This week's garter is my Gorgeously Glam Garter in Petal Pink and Hot Pink with Swarovski Crystal and Marabou Feathers. Pink, pink, and more pink ~ it is one of my absolute favorites. I don't think a garter could get more girly than this! It was originally designed as a custom order for a bride in Pennsylvania in April 2010.

The garter is available here and the set here; both will be 10% off through next Monday.

I would love to hear what you think of this garter ~ love it or hate it? Would you like to see it in a different color? Tell me what you think!

And be sure to check back next week for a new Garter of the Week!

Taking a Leap

I come from a long line of non-risk takers. We don’t bungee jump or sky dive ~ generally, the McCormicks and Woolslayers {my mom’s side of the family} play it pretty safe. And while I’m not much of a risk taker, I am definitely a dreamer. I dream about my dad walking me down the beach to marry the man of my dreams in a beautiful, intimate wedding in Hawaii. I dream about what it would be like to be married to this man and to have two beautiful children with him ~ will our kids look like me? Or will they have the dark hair and dark eyes of the typical man I am attracted to? Will I love these children so much I’m afraid my heart will burst? And I dream about the day that I will be able to support myself fully with my garter business, the day that I will be able to give notice at my day job and hopefully never be employed by someone else again. To be able to focus 100% of my “work” attention to my own business, instead of working for “The Man”? To dedicate 40+ hours a week to working on new designs, cranking out existing orders, doing what I can to be a part of so many brides' big days? To be my own boss, to answer to no one but myself {and the occasional bridezilla}? That is my dream.

Tomorrow, I'm taking a huge step toward making that dream a reality. Starting this week, I will no longer be a full-time employee but instead will be working 32 hours at my day job. I'll still be working five days a week, but every day except Wednesday I'll leave at 2:00. I am over the moon at the prospect of having an extra 8 hours every week to work on garters {and hoping that the extra garter time might mean the end of the 80 hour work weeks that I've been plagued with since Christmas}. It's scary but very exciting ~ on the one hand, I'll now be relying more than ever on my garter income for my monthly expenses, but on the other hand, it was something that I had to do if I ever want to grow my business to the point where I can be self~employed and financially secure.

I’m hopeful that my new work schedule will allow for more time for blogging, which I truly do enjoy and really miss. I envision this blog becoming a blend of all aspects of my life ~ my life as an artist, the growth of my business, fun time with Daisy, and maybe even the occasional post about my search for love. I hope you’ll join me as I continue my adventure!