Things I'm Learning

I haven't blogged in a very long time, mostly because I have been making lots of bracelets and trying to get my company off the ground.

{before the first trunk show on July 13!}

At the same time, I am dealing with health issues but I finally feel like I have some kind of handle on them. There's a plan. I have a doctor specifically for my pain--this has been amazing because I have finally found a regimen where my pain is tolerable but I can actually function like a human being. It's fantastic!! 

So on to what I've learned since, say, April. 

First, doing it the right way. I would love to show up at a store, show them my bracelets and necklaces, have them fall in love with them, and have that be over. In reality, that won't happen. I ordered business cards and postcards describing my business so I will be able to put together a professional looking packet for stores I approach with the goal of having them carry some of my jewelry.

Second, listen to customers. When I sold bracelets at the flea market last spring, a girl mentioned to me that sometimes people just want one bracelet and don't want to deal with stacking a ton of small ones. After that, I added variety to my jewelry--keeping the small bracelets that I call "stackers" but branching out into bracelets with bigger beads. I also was so fortunate to start working part-time for a local jewelry designer who gave me a lot of beads out of the kindness of her heart. Working for her increased my knowledge of precious and semi-precious stones and made me better at making bracelets and necklaces.

Third, take your inspiration when it comes. The amazing receptionist at my doctor's office (who has been dealing with me for WAY too long) asked me to make a necklace and some bracelets for her. I had never made one before but I said I would try my best. The lovely ladies at Beadazzled in Dupont circle helped me out and I was able to make one necklace. The receptionist loved it. She liked the next one I made too. Watching my girlfriends try on my necklaces at my trunk show--at that point, I'd made around 10--was pretty much the coolest thing ever. I am so grateful to Wendy (the receptionist) for unintentionally pushing me in a direction that is working really well for me. 

Fourth, gratitude. Always. For my husband and family. For my dad always reminding me he was proud of me when I felt I was useless and not doing enough. For epic picture texting sessions with my mom (of the bracelets we've made.) For my sweet amazing sister and her keeping it real perspective and her sense of humor. For the fact that said husband has supported me both while I was gross in the hospital and while I was occupying the couch making and pricing bracelets and watching depressing documentaries for hours and hours at a time. For my friends whose support of me has been unrelenting. I haven't always been the easiest to deal with, and they have stuck around and loved me in spite of that. 

So off I go to make some jewelry and take care of myself and enjoy this delightfully--at least for me--overcast day. I'll try to write here more often, and not always about bracelets. There are so many awesome people, places, and things in my world for me to be thankful for. 

Good Things Are To Come.

I've been an anxious person for most of my life. I used to set strict goals and rules for myself and be frightened of what would happen if I didn't meet them. 
But then personal issues came about (and still continue to) that render that perspective obsolete. I graduated with my master's degree a little more than a year late and the world continued to move on its axis. I still love reading and analyzing news about international relations--as a result, the lessons and theories I learned in grad school are kept fresh. 
Three months before my wedding, I discovered that I have a chronic health problem that hasn't been resolved yet. I've had four surgeries since May 2013. But I worked when I could at a business where I've met incredible people and gotten new ideas about what I want to do. 
I am in the process of launching my own jewelry line that combines beading bracelets (which is AMAZING for my mental health) and donating a portion of what I make to Wounded Warrior Project. In the future, I hope to contribute to a diverse group of organizations that improve people's lives. 

Surrendering to imperfection has made me a much more pleasant person to be around. I realize that comparing 28 year old Emily to 18 year old Emily just isn't practical--those are two different people and that's ok. I am able to find happiness in places that I never thought I would in my late teens and mid to early twenties. 

It was a big realization to me that making the best of difficult situations can actually lead to some of the happiest and proudest moments of my life. The little moments of happiness are so good, too--coffee in the mornings and driving with Dude, cackling with my mom and sister and girlfriends, getting a big hug from my dad. 

I'm so grateful for the many awesome parts of my life, and I feel much more hopeful than I have before. So hopeful, in fact, that I stole the title of this post from a candle...

Oh well, no one's perfect. Hope everyone has a happy and relaxing Sunday! 

Where Have I Been?

More than a month without posting...so weird!
After I got back from FL, I started tagging along to Richmond and Charlottesville with the boy on his work trips. That was so good for me--fresh air, new places, and seeing friends. 
Somewhere along that way, the bracelet idea that I mentioned here got a bit more traction. 
I founded (re) purpose jewelry and have been making many bracelets ever since. Here's the facebook page for my little enterprise, which explains it a bit more. 

We had a successful first run at the Georgetown Flea Market 

(we actually sold bracelets!!) and hope to return there soon.

Unfortunately I am still sick and had another surgery last week. However, I am in less pain than I thought I'd be in and in our travels to Baltimore (site of my new doctor's office) we found two awesome things: 

1. Hotel Brexton: Perfect for overnight stays, free breakfast, haunted.

{image via tripadvisor}

2. R&R Taqueria: So it's in a gas station. But Dude had heard many good foodie rumblings about it, so in we went. It was phenomenal. 

{Endorsed by Guy Fieri and JJ}

I'm definitely going to try to check back in a bit more often, and I may post details about where my bracelets and I are planning on popping up next. Happy Cinco de Mayo!! 

Who Says You Can't Go Home?

Last week, I decided I needed out of DC and left for a couple of days. Being home and with my family was exactly what I needed and I was even able to face what seemed like the millionth round of snow a couple of days after I returned to the District. 

I got off the plane and drove around Palm Beach for a bit before I met my mom. I sat on a bench near the ocean and took in this gorgeous view. 

I took a picture of this adorable bird too...if you look closely, you can see the Breakers hotel in the background. 

My mom indulged me and took me to Toojay's for lunch two days in a row. The second day, we drove over the Lake Worth Bridge to take the scenic (A1A) route back to her apartment building.

The Intercoastal Waterway is so pretty. I also fell into it when I was in kindergarten...long story. 

My flight home was delayed, so I ended up spending an extra night at home (which not-so-secretly made me really happy.) 

My mom and sister and I went to dinner at City Cellar in CityPlace and spent so much time checking out all the awesome stuff in Sloan's Ice Cream that we didn't get...ice cream. 

I am so fortunate that I have my amazing family and this beautiful place to come home to. I want to go back as soon as I can!!

Fun Birthday Gifts

I got some great gifts for my birthday that I can't stop using...and one of them was from myself! (Oh well.) 

macaron stickies/See's Candies lollipops/Nest Grapefruit candle 

I also love this picture that Dude and I took during a quick trip to Richmond last week. It's always fun to be there!

move on from mistakes; remember to celebrate.

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I made a mistake at work yesterday--it was relatively easy to correct and I was completely honest/disclosing about it from the minute I realized I'd made it. In spite of that, I still felt like such a moron. Last night and this morning, I'm trying to remind myself that no one is perfect at her job, no matter what it is. Playing it safe would be staying at home all day because I'm still having health problems, and I'm not interested in doing that.

On a much happier note, I turned 28 last week and celebrated over the weekend. My birthday is on Valentine's Day and Dude and I celebrated both at Equinox on Friday night. He tends to be more culinarily adventurous than I am, and it was definitely fun to try things that I wouldn't usually order. We had some of our friends and my fabulous cousin over for my birthday on Saturday night and it was so much fun. We didn't take a ton of pictures, but I couldn't help but snap one of this bright and beautiful bouquet that one of my sweet pals and her husband brought over.

This Tuesday definitely feels like one...wishing everyone a day that goes quickly and a relaxing/fun night!

Dark Fashion: AHC Coven

I finished American Horror Story: Coven. The show is tremendously disturbing but simultaneously so worth the binge-watching even though my mom yells at me for being a fan of the show. All I have to say to her is...

Huffington Post

More Coven fashion/quote-worthy awesomeness here.

Stevie Nicks and her shawls and her twirling popped up throughout the season. I'm obsessed with this one (draped over the chair on the left in the picture below), which on the show was a gift from Stevie to Lily Rabe's character. Giant pink/coral flowers for the win!

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