We Set a Date!

It's True!

We set a date!

(again)

We will be getting married June 8, 2013. 

So excited I get to plan again!

I have so many ideas.

I'm starting completely over with planning.

Somewhat of a good omen, maybe?

The only thing we're really keeping is the theme. 

Somewhat of a peacock theme.

but vintage!

and albino!

We'll be doing Purples and Blues 

with accents of mint green and possibly silver

(mainly cuz I like things to sparkle!)

I want as much as possibly to be handmade

by me

friends

etsy

anything! just handmade.

(this is something Russ made me after we go engaged)

Any ideas? DO TELL!!

I am jumping right back into planning.

 No last minute details for me to go nuts over ☺

What I'm referencing so far:

A website my friend showed me:

http://offbeatbride.com/

Then of course:

www.theknot.com 

Much Love.

♥

Great Friends

"I don’t know but I’ve been told

HMC Boot Camp is like finding gold

If you want your shop to grow

Sign up and be in the know

There is no muss, no fuss, or stress

Just a great chance for your success!"

(created by our very own Marsha Bourquin)

So, Boot Camp ends today.

I'm sad and yet grateful for the opportunity that I've had with these wonderful ladies:

Marsha Bourquin: Bags By Hags

Red Weaver: Go Green With Red

Lulu Divine: Divine Lulu Creations

Michelle Smith: Monday's Child Primitives

Debbie Nowicki: Growing Phases Farm

To all these ladies, THANK YOU!

You've made this journey unforgettable. 

YOU, MY FRIENDS, ARE AMAZING! 

I know that I will continue to do things outside of my comfort zone. 

and I will grow my business while doing so!

I know you all will continue to do great things.

♥ March on, young soldiers ♥

3-0 +1

Today was bittersweet.

We found out that tomorrow is our last day of boot camp!

I'll be "on my own" to continue with my blog, website, tumblr, etc..

EEK!

A quick note of thanks is in order to our wonderful leader, Debbie.

She goes above and beyond and is an amazing, genuine person.

(with bees! Yep she just got bees!)

THANK YOU DEBBIE!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

(shameless promotion. Check out her shop! www.growingphasesfarm.etsy.com )

Well, I have to make this quick!

It's off to mom's for Russ' birthday dinner.

(His birthday is Tuesday)

The big 3-0 +1 hehe

but if anyone asks, he's 29.

THANK YOU!

Guess what?

THIS IS FOR YOU!!

That's right.

All for you.

What is it? Well, my dear....

It's a 25% off coupon 

good for anything in my shop over $5 except custom orders

from today 5/5/12 until Tuesday 5/8/12

Sweet deal, right?

Why? Well, my dear....

It's because you rock!

I've decided that today is customer appreciation day. 

Because without you guys, my business wouldn't exist.

and that would be terrible!

So, THANK YOU!

I appreciate you so very much!

Now, how do you use it?

EASY!

Take a look in my shop

www.theprettydogood.etsy.com

Then, if you see something you like, add it to your cart.

In the checkout right above item total you will see "apply shop coupon code"

Click to add it and use code:

THANKYOU143

hit apply

and voila!

you get 25% off!

Enjoy, my dear ♥

And again, thanks a bunch!

Let's Make Some Lip Balm! -Chemical Free/Gluten Free

Today is busy busy!

So, I think I'll wind down with some lip balm. 

It smells so good when making it. The smell of beeswax is great.

...and thinking of Boot Camp Leader Debbie who should be getting her bees today!

{beeswax!}

{the tubes I use}

What do I use?

beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, a subtle blend of essential oils.

I melt. I pour. I pipette. I list!

FIND LIP BALM HERE: http://www.etsy.com/listing/88924397/bee-natural-handmade-lip-balm-gluten

What people say about it:

"I LOVE THE SMELL! My lips feel so soft:) Perfect!"

"Terrific product! Thanks so much! Love this stuff!"

"This is amazing lip balm will order again"

"These smell wonderful and are really long lasting on my lips, love them!"

"Thank You Erin! I love this lip balm...I'll buy from you any day of the week!"

"Fantastic, just love it!"

"If you have not tried this, then do it!! AWESOME!!!"

No wonder I like making this stuff :)

Also because I was always in desperate need of a lip smoother....so what better way than to make one!

Try it for yourself!

♥

Welcome to NYC

Well, we didn't make it to the zoo....It rained all morning!

But we still trekked on to Central Park and by the time we got there, the skies had cleared.

It rained the next day, so we never went to CT either haha ....but I still had a good time.

We went wedding ring shopping and Russ found 2 to pick from that he said he "could wear"

(In Russ speak, that's good!)

So, I'm back!

Boot Camp went on without me, but I sure did miss 'em!

(but admittedly enjoyed my time away with Russ)

♥

Tumblr? Now what?

To Tumblr or not to Tumblr?

I did it! I made one! and its actually kind of fun.

Are you on Tumblr?

As far as I can tell its like a blog in baby stage. You just post pics and quotes, etc...

 And make it short and sweet!

(My kinda thing!)

Well, Here's my link if ya want to check it out!

http://theprettydogood.tumblr.com/

Tomorrow, I'm going AWOL from boot camp!

I'm excited to be getting "out" for a bit, but I actually really like boot camp. It's been incredibly helpful making me expand my horizons. I started a blog (yay!), a tumblr, grew an obsession with pinterest, etc...

Alas, tomorrow I will be missing. Well, not missing. In NYC to be exact. 

Ya see, its our anniversary and that darling man of mine and I are going to Central Park

And the ZOO

We're like little kids hehe.

So, I bid you farewell for a couple days! Hold down the fort for me, would ya?

(an oldie, but a goodie)

♥

My Life in Pictures

 I absolutely love pictures

Taking them

Looking at them

Watching other people take them

You name it...

So when I heard the boot camp assignment today was to take 100 pictures, I went to town....literally.

I live in (well, close) to a small town by the water. If you look close, you can find some awesome, random things... 

Today I found "Imagine" in the sidewalk, a lone toy giraffe, a nifty street sign, and the usual town perks.

{Pretty cool, huh?}

I hope you enjoyed my walk through town!

I know I did.

Next time you're walking around wherever you are, bring a camera!

You never know what you're going to find...

How Does Your Garden Grow?

So, today I will be doing something I've never done before but always wanted to do...

Starting an Herb Garden!

Now, I don't have a big house with a big back yard, but I do have ideas and resources.

And pinterest! 

So, I found the perfect idea for me! 

Growing seedlings in recycled containers...

I'm already recycle and re-use, so it should be simple to make planters!

I will be using coffee cans, other tin cans, and bottles.

I'm really excited about this! I do my best to eat really healthy and LOVE fresh fruits, veggies, herbs, you name it!

I'm doing a lot of research, making planters, and ultimately getting seeds!!

So, How do I turn this into a garden?

EASILY!!! 

Thanks to:

http://www.desperategardener.com/2011/03/creative-containers.html

You can take plastic bottles, tin cans, glass jars....

and make them into planters when you dont have much space.

(picture from the website thedesperategardener.com)

The website showed me how to turn plastic bottles into self watering planters! Too cool.

Also, I found some great ideas on Pinterest and pinned them here:

http://pinterest.com/theprettydogood/my-mini-garden/

Take a look around. Maybe you'll find the inspiration to start a garden too!

♥

Why I Love Pinterest

PINTEREST

I adore you.

Why, you ask?

It's simple. You can:

*find items to buy (and we all know I like to shop)

*find recipes - smoothies, food, beauty recipes, etc..

*find helpful tips and solutions for business and home

*get your products known by your target audience.....

The possibilites are endless!

                                                         
CLICK TO VIEW BOARDS

Enjoy, darlin'!Maybe I'll catch you on Pinterest... ♥

Find Your Niche

Today, I'm feeling social. 

And categorized?

The talk of the day is developing a niche.

What "type" of people generally buy my items?

I've had all types of people, men and women teens-50ish buy my items online and local.

Usually, I'd say their style is free spirited, hippie-chic, boho, urban, etc...

Therefore, I do believe my jewelry falls within that category!

The good thing about my shop, though, is that there's a variety of styles.

Boho. Hippie. Minimalist. Classy. Other Words (hehe)

Let's be social, now....shall we?

The hardest thing for me is how to market my brand and who to aim it towards.

I may know, but I don't know how to go about it.

Therefore, I joined some groups that may help!

1. On Etsy called Boho-Chic Crafters

http://www.etsy.com/teams/10416/boho-chic-crafters?ref=pr_teams

2. A (fairly) local meetup in NY called Craft Factory

http://www.meetup.com/Craftfactory/

3. I "liked" Etsy NY on facebook to find local artists and craft shows geared towards my shops style

http://www.facebook.com/thenewnewny

And then I "liked" a bunch more!

(mostly pertaining to my style and location. Found some awesome markets that I may look into selling at in the future)

Productive, if I do say so myself ♥

Healthy Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe - Gluten-Free/Vegan

So, what am I knowledgeable about?

How to make a mean pumpkin smoothie

(and other healthy recipes -food, drinks, and beauty)

It's Spring, so why pumpkin!?

Pumpkin, in my opinion is amazing in any season 

(although you'll have to buy it canned)

The Benefits of pumpkin:

~Extremely low in calories

~No saturated fat or cholesterol

~High in vitamins and anti-oxidants such as Vitamin A, C, and E. 

(Highest in Vitamin A)

~Also rich in Fiber, Calcium, and B-Complex vitamins

Oh, And it's really, really tasty.

♥

So, let's make this quick.

Let's make it sweet.

And let's drink a fantastic smoothie afterwards!

INGREDIENTS  

(per serving)

*1/4 Cup organic pumpkin 

you can use canned pumpkin that is used as a pie filler

*1/4 Cup low-fat soymilk

*About 1/4 cup water

*A few ice cubes

*A dash of pumkin pie spice

Optional: 

Sugar/Sugar substitute to taste  mixed with a splash of hot water 

(enough to help it dissolve) 

Mix everything in the blender on med-high, but put ice in last 

(blend a bit before adding ice)

Use highest setting when ice is added.

.............................................................................

YOU'RE DONE!

wasn't that easy?

Put in a pretty glass and drink....preferably with a cool straw.

I like nutmeg or a little pumpkin spice on top, but thats a personal preference.

*NOTE*

you can easily substitute regular milk, regular pumpkin, etc... if you so desire

ENJOY!!

A Peek into my life....

     

This is me!

no, no...not on the left!

I'm 24yrs old and engaged to this crazy man licking my knee. 

He's pretty much the best ever. 

Aint he cute?

 I love animals and grew up with parents who rescued cats. This was me bottle feeding my parents latest rescue! She's much bigger now (about 7months old) and has an even bigger brother the same age. Her name is Darla and she's still the cutest thing ever. Her rambunctious, yet gorgeous all black brother is Spanky.

When I "grow up" I want to rescue horses. 

(among many other animals)

LIKE DINOSAURS!

I love dinosaurs.

 P.S. I sell these glittery babes in my Etsy shop...

RANDOM FUN FACTS:

I *may have* gotten kicked out of a zoo in Indiana for taking this picture.

Apparently you are not supposed to jump over fences an get all cozy with the zebras in the name of art.

Who knew?!

 Boston may have been my favorite place to live. 

(minus some of the people who tried their darnedest to change that fact)

The city though?

Can't beat it.

.....yet.

 I grew up in a recording studio

....quite literally.

My stepfather (the cool dude in the pic) followed his dreams and started his own studio.

And it was awesome.

He encouraged me to follow my dreams too.

This is where The Pretty Do-Good comes into play!

♥

When he passed away in January,  I got lyrics to a song he wrote on my foot with his signature (taken from a card given to me on my 24th birthday) 

It says:

"We Will Make it In This Life"

(definitely words to live by)

Something else to live by:

(Another tattoo of mine - one of about 15 or so..)

It's true. You only have the limits you make.

 Make no limits.

Do what you love, what you've dreamt of.

And you will make it in this life...

♥♥♥

Busy, But Good!

Oh today was a busy day!

But a good day.

My Morning: 

Wake up. Go back to sleep. Repeat x3 with advil in between.

My Afternoon:

BOOT CAMP....of course :) I started a website, YAY!  

It's a work in progress, but all good websites are. Here it is:

ME MI MY WEBSITE

(will eventually be ditching the "webs" at the end of it though)

My Night: 

A blissful blog with you folks! And makin' jewelry. 

And listening to Hubby-to-be play his new bass.

Shhh Don't Tell him he's on my blog!

Well, Have a good one! 

And Tonight, Remember:

"Go to bed with a dream, wake up with a purpose."

Sale is NOT your typical 4-letter word....

Call me crazy,

Call me cheap,

But I REALLY like sales.

My bank account isn't too upset with them either... except maybe when I go nuts shopping.

 I kinda like shopping no matter what. That's ok, though. It gives my credit card a workout.
And working out is good. 

SO, I'd think it's time to "give back"....or pay it forward.....or something good.

My Shop, The Pretty Do-Good, is having a... (you guessed it) 

SALE!

This will be an awesome weekly occurrence. 

Starting Sunday and Ending Tuesday night (48 hours only!)

 1 item will be offered at a hefty discount. 

....Nifty, right?

THIS WEEKS ITEM

Regularly $21

Sale Price: $16

.925 Sterling Silver Dipped Thread Earrings with Silver Swarovski Crystal and Recycled Components

Sterling Thread provides opportunity to adjust the length!

**Please note, when purchased, you will receive a NEW, unworn pair**

 

View/Purchase Item here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89778746/magnificent-silver-swarovski-crystal

Not feelin' it?

Let your wallet breathe with some other low-priced handmade goodness

Check out my shop for some other options here:

www.etsy.com/shop/theprettydogood

Enjoy Your Day!

Much Love ♥ 

Summertime and the living is.....Creative ♥

Summer brings out the BEST things

The Beach

Warm Weather

Fun Clothing

Sandals

AND ANKLETS!

(and other great jewelry, of course)

I feel the dire need to make some today.

Would you like to watch?

Ok. Good.

I will be making silk cord and genuine Amethyst stone anklets.

THE SUPPLIES

(Genuine Silk and Amethyst Chips....and camera shy coffee, of course)

THE PROCESS

(Braid, Tie, and string stone on cord)

Simply, I braid one end about 1/3 of the length of the anklet and tie it off. 

 Then I make a knot on one piece of the silk and string an amethyst chip on and knot again. I do this on each of the 3 cords in random spots until I like the look of it. 

 Then I knot it off again and start braiding the last 1/3 of the anklet!

You can either tie it to your ankle or attach a clasp using toggle or lobster clasps and fold over crimps.

THE RESULT:

I ALSO MADE ONE IN GOLD SILK AND GENUINE TURQUOISE

LIKE THESE? 

They are available for purchase here:

Amethyst: 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/98094852/anklet-ivory-silk-cord-and-genuine?ref=v1_other_2

Turquoise:

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/98094991/anklet-golden-silk-cord-and-genuine

Thanks for watching! I think its time to break out the Hula Hoop....