I've been Nominated!

I would like to thank Jacque from "Jacque's Soda Parlor" for nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award! Not gonna lie, I was a little surprised when I found out--I'm my worst critic, what can I say--so it's always such a great feeling to receive positive feedback for your efforts, right? ;) I feel so honored! Thank you so much, Jacque!

After accepting the Versatile Blogger Award, the blogger must:

1. Thank the person who gave the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 10 recently discovered blogs.

Okay, so seven things about myself:

1. I honestly believe that sometimes life really does have better plans.
2. My puppy is basically my baby, and I am biased into thinking that everyone needs a dog.
3. I have the most adorable niece on the planet and I am so excited to go and see her this Fall!!
4. I'm quite nearly the only person I know who doesn't own a Smart Phone, an Ipod Touch, I-phone, or a tablet or some sort (I just barely upgraded from a 512mb MP3 player... I live a simple life).
5. I wear slippers even in the Summer.
6. Halloween is hands-down my favorite holiday.
7. I have a hole in my head.

Now, here are 10 blogs I've recently discovered that I hope you will take the time to visit:

1. Chef-n-Training
2. Cut the Craft!
3. Sweetie Pie Bakery
4. Nest of Posies
5. Less Cake More Frosting
6. Design by Night
7. Bumbleberries Boutique
8. Cupcake Bakeshop
9. Design Dazzle
10. Good Little Things

Giveaway ends--TODAY!!!

Remember that GIVEAWAY over at A CREATIVE PRINCESS??? TODAY IS YOUR LAST DAY!!!!  So, if you want to win a pair of my vinyl music record earrings, head over there now and enter--hurry, there are only a few hours left!

Lots and Lots of Features!

Normally I don't like to complain about being sick, but you just have those days where it's too much to deal with--I don't even mind the 2-5 days where you fee like you're going to die, it's the 2-5 weeks following where you're feeling better, but not well enough to do all those wonderful things that you want to do--just completely fatigued and lacking life--as if the sickness just won't let go, even though you're long done with it. It's lame--that's where I'm at right now, and as much as I absolutely hate complaining, it really sucks. :(

So, with that preface... I have not been feeling up to pair, physically or emotionally--but then today something wonderful happened: I checked my email this morning and came across three amazing surprises--I was featured on THREE different blogs today! What a way to turn the week around!

My Couture Zipper Necklaces were featured over at Sugar Bee Crafts!

Desirée over at The 36th Avenue awarded me the "Girl.. You've Got Style!" sticker for my Yo-Yo Headbands and Zipper Rose Headbands!

My Zipper Rose Headbands were also featured over at The4Rs Ramblings!






and last, but most certainly not least, my ENTIRE BLOG was featured over at A Creative Princess!



Thank you SOOOOOO much Terri--this truly is the greatest honor! A Creative Princess is by far one of my favorite blogs--it's so cute, and Terri is so ridiculously creative! If you've never seen it, PLEASE CHECK IT OUT! It's so worth it--Terri, you are a true gem!

And thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of my blog and shop and creative ventures--thank you so much for helping to pick me up when I'm not feeling quite up to par. :)

Two New Features!

Thank you so much to craft eNVy and The4Rs Ramblings for featuring my Pansies Zipper Headband and my Butterfly Bib Necklace!

Featured at SAHM!

Black and White fabric flower rings--featured over at SAHM of Etsy!

A Little Encouragement

They weren't kidding when they said that your biggest critic is yourself--I can personally attest to that for sure--so it certainly is nice to receive a little external encouragement on those days when I wonder if my creations are really any good. So... thank you SOOO much to Craftaholics Anonymous for featuring my Zipper Necklace (WHAT?! That party was open for weeks--which meant that there were countless amazing projects involved, and yet mine made the cut? That's pretty awesome, not gonna lie), The Answer is Chocolate for featuring my Black and White Rings, and to all those who visited the Me Making Do linky party this week, making the link to my Flower Rings the top viewed! I'm still trying to believe that one, haha--why would mine be the top viewed link when there were so many others that were simply amazing? It boggles the mind... but I'm not complaining of course. :) Thank you to these three amazing blogs--you helped me start a potentially not-so-good week off on a wonderfully bright and fantastic note! :)

Featured at Sunshine and Chaucer!

My Boho-Chic earrings were featured today over and Sunshine and Chaucer! :)

Featured at The Answer is Chocolate!

I know I'm totally spoiled--but seriously, I am so grateful that my work has been so well received in the crafting community--so, here is another feature!!

The necklace we made for my aunt's birthday was featured today over at The Answer is Chocolate! (and yes, the answer is always chocolate!)--thank you so much Carol!

Percy the Purple Hippo--Featured Again! :)

What a day... I can't say it was bad, but to call it good wouldn't quite do the day justice as well--let's just say it was interesting... and at the end of the day, exhausted and wanting to start anew tomorrow, I was so pleased to find that Percy received another feature--this time by the Funky Polka Dot Giraffe! Some days take more out of you than others, and after a day like that, it sure was nice to come home to something like that. :)

Two More Features!

Seriously, today has been such a busy day--and I didn't even get a chance to sit down and craft! Sad... but tomorrow is another day--but even with my lack of creating today, I did receive several silver linings--and two features! My Pink Easter Necklace was featured by Sew Woodsy as well as Eisy Morgan--THANK YOU to you both! :)

Boho Earrings Featured at Sarahndipities!

My Boho-Chic earrings were featured again--this time at Sarahndipities! :)

I can't believe it--I was FEATURED by Tatertots and Jello!

When I first got into the world of online craft blogging, there was one blog that I was completely in love with--Tatertots and Jello--not only did it have the most creative name, but each post is filled with multitudes of great ideas! It's just wonderful. So today as I was browsing through my Monday sites I was shocked to discover that my necklace was featured by none other than Tatertots and Jello--now my life is complete. :)

Featured at the Tattered Tag!

What a perfect pick-me-up on such a rainy day... I was featured AGAIN on the Tattered Tag! (This time, for my Boho-Chic Earrings)

Featured by Sugar Bee Crafts!!!

What a pleasant surprise! Today I was going going going since the moment I woke up--I didn't have a second to get online until just now (yes, my relaxation on Wednesdays is American Idol)--what a treat to discover my Pretty Pink Easter Necklace (that I made for my amazing aunt) was featured by one of my favorite crafting blogs, SUGAR BEE CRAFTS! Yay!!! I love this blog--if you haven't visited before, check it out now! :)

The One and Only Feature!

What an honor! Today I was the one and only feature over at Crafty Geordi (check it out HERE!)--seriously, I can't tell you how exciting that is for me! Thanks so much Christine--I am completely overwhelmed, that was so sweet of you--thank you thank you!

Featured on Simply Sweet Home!

What a wonderful day--my project was featured by one of my favorite blogs, Simply Sweet Home! :)

Featured on My Girlish Whims!

This evening oddly went downhill for some reason... maybe it was the bipolar weather, or the stress of the future, but whatever it was--it put me in a state of being rather bummed out. However, as I was checking my email for the night, I found this gem that helped turn my day back around again--my projects were featured on My Girlish Whims!

Daydreams, Doodles, and Features!

My Daydreaming Doodles earrings were featured today over at Goodbye City, Hello Suburbs!

Three New Features!

I was so busy this weekend with graduation--I came back surprised and estatic to discover that my blog received THREE more features!

First, Crafty Geordi featured my niece's BEAUTIFUL blessing dress!

second, my baby burp cloths and bibs were featured by Truly Lovely!

and third, my ridiculously talented TinkerMama's beautiful Zipper Necklace was featured by Reasons to Skip Housework!

What a great way to start the week!

GRADUATION!!!

This weekend I officially graduated from BYU!! Okay, technically I was already graduated--the diploma has been sitting on my shelf for the past four months--but it really didn't feel all that real until I donned the cap and gown--then suddenly it hit me. It was awesome--seriously, I didn't expect to have so much fun, but I did! It was one of the best days of my life. :)

Okay, to be honest, here is my favorite part of the entire day: for graduation, my absolutely AMAZING and talented mother made me this BEAUTIFUL dress!

and I made a few accessories to match:

and since during graduation only your shoes actually show under the graduation gown, I made some nice bright shoe clips to match my new dress:

and they even kind of match with the BYU gold and blue graduation gear.

That amazing mother of mine:

The ceremony went surprisingly well--I rather enjoyed the speakers, especially the Dean of the Humanities college, who focused his words on forgetting--at graduation they are always focused on what we need to remember, but he reminded us that the ability to forget is essential to. In the words of Borges,

"To think is to forget--to forget differences, generalize, make abstractions..."

Amazing.

After the ceremony the graduates all headed out the tunnel to say goodbye to our professors--I was so excited to see Dr. Tate there! It seems like I haven't seen him since our wonderful times in London--he is such a wonderful WONDERFUL teacher!

Then back into the sunlight--where I suffered the most epic fall of all time--okay, maybe not the best, but it was pretty awesome. Too bad it didn't occur when I went up on stage to get my diploma... anyway, I limped around and finally found my family, where my amazing parents were waiting to greet me. <3

And my wonderful grandparents--I walked today just for you Grandpa! <3

My Aunt Jeanmarie, Uncle Jim, and favorite cousin, Andy--I was so excited they came!!

It was surprisingly a ridiculously sunny day... :)

After pictures were taken and congratulations were said, the parents took me out for dinner at Outback Steakhouse--I couldn't believe how much I ate, but then again, it was basically my first meal of the entire day! (I was slightly stressed trying to get to graduation on time). Plus, the food was beyond delicious, so it was well worth it.

What a wonderful day! I love school, and I am so proud of my accomplishments, but the most important thing that the day reiterated for me was how wonderful my family is--thanks guys, I love you!!

P.S. Even after the fact graduation continues to bring joy to my life--this post was featured by Christine at Craft Geordi--and the one and only feature that day to boot! :)