Tuesday, February 7, 2017

big news!

this emerald beauty by Custom in NoDa

Bryan proposed on New Year's Eve of 2016.  right at midnight while the futurebirds were playing on stage covered in glitter.  my sister and brad were there to witness.  i should have suspected just based on that alone since they never leave the house, but i didn't.  i was so distracted with other things (the loss of my job).  this came at the perfect time.  it was so far from my realm of thinking that it was a complete surprise which made the moment so perfect.  i get embarrassed when i am overly emotional and i definitely was, but it was such a pure moment.  i was so happy.  and the ring is everything i could ask for in a ring.  it made me so happy that he picked it out all by himself.  he chose an emerald, my birthstone which i love.  i love the gold and the extra little art deco detailing.  it is simple and beautiful.  we are thinking of a mountain elopement...stay tuned!

when life gives you lemons

my bright studio

so 2017 is the year whether i choose it or not.  i have always been a true believer in things happening for a reason, and choose not to live my life in regret.  i can't think of a time where something happened that may have felt like a negative experience at the time, but the doors that opened afterwards made it all okay.  it is all in how you choose to view things.  i lost my job of four years a few days before Christmas.  i am grateful for the fact that i have my Etsy side hustle which will get me through the tough times instead of having to scramble like so many people have to do in the same situation.  i have always wanted to leave my full-time job to pursue my own business and maybe it was a decision that needed to be made for me.  it never feels like the right time, and you never feel prepared enough so why not try now?  unfortunately, my shop, just like a lot of others is struggling on Etsy right now. 



i am so blessed with my gorgeous, new dream house and man i am so in love with and even a new puppy in my life.  what a great time to try to make this entrepreneurial thing work.  nothing will motivate you more than being your own boss and being able to choose how you spend your days.  spending all day with my sweet Sable, cooking healthy meals, and taking breaks to go on long walks on the greenway is all i need to stay happy!  my next post will be steps to take if you are trying to go freelance or work from home full-time with your own business.  good luck and stay positive!





winter salads

winter mizzen and baby watercress salad

what i say is when in doubt, just keep it simple and make a delicious salad.  i have never regretted eating a fresh, crunchy salad.  my tips for making a spectacular salad at home:

1.  stay seasonal.  i know avocados and tomatoes are BOMB, but what is in season right now?  tomatoes are gross and mealy in the dead of winter and you will end up just picking them out of your salad anyway.  they are force ripened this time of year and are not juicy, red and flavorful like they are in the summertime.  there are lots of greens in season even in winter and just add other goodies like walnuts and bell pepper to make up for the summer time additives.

2.  keep it local.  i splurge and get fancy greens and toppings when i can.  i know i will eat more salads and it elevates the flavor and presentation when you get nicer ingredients.  so go ahead and splurge on the fancy greens at your local farmers market or the heirloom carrots.  you will be supporting a local farmer and getting a healthier product.

3.  always make your own dressing.  even if it is a basic balsamic vinaigrette.  there is a tanginess and better texture to a dressing your make yourself.  you can buy a simple salad dressing mixer at any store and sometimes there are even measurements on the side that tell you how many parts vinegar to oil, etc.  i always keep a multitude of fancy vinegars around to mix it up and keep it fresh.  add in herbs, honey, mustards....experiment!  if you are craving a creamy dressing make one out of Greek yogurt!