This artist's work is amazing! She's going to be at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver this weekend, so it will be fun to check out her paintings in person.

I need some artwork for my office, and am doing everything I can to prevent buying up a series of prints in lieu of groceries this week. I mean, we have a 4-pack of Ramen Noodles in our cupboard, in addition to a bunch of random pasta insta-packs that we just never get around to eating. It's not like I'd technically be starving.

Happy Independence Day! It was a low-key holiday for us here. I often take advantage of days off to catch up on jewelry, then find myself sad right before bedtime when I realize that I didn't take in any fireworks or partake in holiday festivities of any sort. I barely took time to drink in the sunny day today- boo.

What is keeping me from enjoying fresh air? I have an inquiry from a shop in New Hampshire, so spent a bunch of time working on putting together a new line sheet, or a mini catalog if you will. I also completed 10 necklaces in preparation for the upcoming trunk show in Sioux Falls. We're having an Alice in Wonderland themed jewelry show, where I'm introducing a new line of Alice-inspired charms as well as my regular collection. I'm trying to put together around 100 new charms, and so far I've got almost 20 completed. My goal is to make an average of 5 charms per day for the next few weeks, which sounds not so bad- until I remember that I need time for sleeping, eating, working, cleaning, running, and saying hi to my boyfriend and dog every once in awhile. It will be a busy July, and will end with a trip back home for the trunk show.

Indulge me- what was your favorite thing about your Fourth of July? I want to live vicariously through you. :)

31!

My day started with an early morning run with my sister Becki. Today begins week 4 of half-marathon training, and this week we start out with a 6-mile run. This is the longest I've ever run, and to be accomplishing such a thing at 31- especially considering that my younger self wouldn't have done something like this- makes me happy. My knees are trying to remind me that I'm officially in my 30's now, so I'm going to stretch more this week and perhaps mix up my cross-training a bit, meaning I should really stop walking 27 flights of stairs on my lunch break at work because my knees are seemingly rebelling. I could also probably use some new running shoes, as my Nikes have been around for years now.

Yesterday, my birthday wish was to go to the Sweet William Market, an outdoor antique and art market. Brandon and Koda humored me, braving the summer heat as I wandered around discovering treasures like old skeleton keys, Scrabble tiles, teacups and saucers, and vintage metal hardware keyholes. There was an amazing selection of vendors, and I'll surely have to visit again on the last Saturday of the month throughout the rest of the summer. There's something amazing about finding something that makes your heart sing. I felt like I was really in my element yesterday. When I bought the two skeleton keys, the booth owner told her friend, "These would make neat necklaces." She then turned to me and asked what I was going to do with the keys. I told her that I've got an Alice in Wonderland themed trunk show coming up this summer, and that I was indeed going to make them into necklaces. She said she was glad they were going to a good home, then showed me her soldered necklace with a button sandwiched between two pieces of glass. A kindred spirit!

After our run today, we came home and showered, then met Becki and Pat for a lovely birthday brunch at my favorite breakfast spot a few blocks from our apartment, then enjoyed cake and ice cream back at our apartment. Brandon got me a lovely birthday cake and even sang a solo "happy birthday" in front of the group, per my request. He humors me, and it makes me love him!

I was exhausted after this morning's run, so we relaxed in the air conditioning today, and I had the best birthday nap ever.

birds!

Sleep. Wake up. Work. Run. Eat. Make jewelry. Repeat. I feel like down time is a rare thing to come by these days. I've got another jewelry show this summer back in SD, so I'm getting ready for it. I'm also trying to stick to O's half-marathon training plan. With the exception of one cross-training day, I've done all the workouts. Tonight's 3-mile run was a challenge, since my parents are coming into town this weekend, so I went grocery shopping after work. Two hours later, I get home and am starving! I grab a handful of trail mix, change into my running shoes, and me and Koda were off on an evening jog, in spite of the fact that I would have much preferred to sit in front of the TV with the remote and just chill tonight.

Here's a photo from this past Sunday's 5-mile jog. Brandon and Koda came along and played catch at the park while Becki and I ran in what turned out to be record-breaking heat. I love how I'm seemingly being held up by Becki in this photo. Meanwhile, her face is glowing as if to say, "Is that really it?! Can we go a few more miles?" I have no idea why the colors on this picture seemed to be going crazy. I think I somehow saved everything inverted, because my pants were navy blue and not red. My skin is more of a pink color, versus the blue shade you see below. The pained look on my face, however, is not a Photoshop error.



Here are some recent necklace designs. These are headed to the shop in downtown Sioux Falls.

My parents will be visiting this weekend. They arrive tomorrow, and we're celebrating with taco night at Becki's.

17 more weeks of this craziness

Carrots is the new breakfast of champions.

We're getting our 5-mile run in this morning, so Becki told me yesterday to eat a light this morning. Frankly, I don't really have much experience eating before this level of exercise, so I grabbed a handful of cereal and some carrots.