I'm an artist.

 Wanna see more of my creations?

MADDOX & KLAUS

XO

Shanna Murray

I have been in love with Shanna Murray decals for a WHILE. 

I always wanted to get one; I just hadn't decided where to put it... Until I saw someone put it on a mirror. Swoon! 

This is the little lovely that I just purchase. 

Check out her site, it's so adorable. I wish I could buy them all.

- - - h e r e - - -

Ramblings and Marina and the Diamonds.

Good morning, friends.

 Hope everyone's Friday is going well! Mine is just starting but so far it's good. Hoping my husband can pick his jeep up today... it's been in the shop for a long time. I feel pretty bad for the owner. He was stressing. haha It's been one weird issue after the next, needless to say on our end we're used to this so we aren't mad. Like, at all. I understand random issues and I have no desire to make the guy feel more terrible about it. He is covering the cost of our rental car so his customer services is already going above and beyond. We like him, so we're good... Hopefully today we get it, though. Danny is definitely really excited and I'm surprised I actually am, too. Even though these new add ons will make it more intimidating for me to drive. I'll get used to it. *fingers crossed*

I didn't update yesterday. I tried to do it through my ipad app but for some reason it has refused to work so that's kind of annoying and and naturally the photos I was going to upload were only on my ipad and OF COURSE my drop box is completely, mysteriously messed up right now. Not cool.

Happy note! I bought our plane tickets for Maine! We're looking forward to it. It's nice to have a break to look forward to. I think because we live in the insane city the thought of going somewhere more remote actually has appeal. Though my husbands family actually lives quite close to a lot of touristy places in Maine so it'll be a nice New England getaway. We'll fly into Manchester, New Hampshire because Southwest airlines doesn't go into Maine. Actually, I take that back; I believe they do fly into Portland but the cost was like 250.00 more, so Manchester is the more price friendly stop and I believe not too far from his parents house. All in all it will be good. The flight time isn't even much worse than Michigan, so thank goodness for small mercies! That was the only part I was dreading. Long flights, especially after our scary ones, they aren't exactly something I want to think about at the moment.

I just downloaded probably 6 songs from Marina and the Diamonds new cd. I seriously love the girl's voice and her beats and perky tunes are awesome. Some of course are well, inappropriate to an extent... I won't really try to defend them, they are what they are. I'm 26, I can handle it. ;)

I'm not really a normal concert-going-girl... as in the last one I went to was a Josh Groban concert in London, Ontario with my mom when I was probably 18. I used to hang out with my guy friends back in the day, most of whom were in local bands, but aside from that I haven't been to any concerts. For some reason they never even crossed my mind! Currently, though, I have a list of concerts that I would actually be really interested in going to.

Marina and the Diamonds (my poor husband)

Florence + the Machine (again, poor husband)

Adele (yep... poor husband)

Taylor Swift (yeah....)

Imagine Dragons

One Republic

I think there were more, but those are the main ones that interest me. I just have a soft spot in my heart for little miss Taylor Swift. I love the girl. She's adorable and frankly better than probably most girls her age in Hollywood. Aside from Jennifer Lawrence who seems to have a good head on her shoulders. Lets just hope for her sake it stays that way. Hollywood has an interesting way of destroying human beings both in and out of the limelight. Poor dumb, darlings...

Alright so that's that. I'll post some other little goods here shortly. I have some ideas for the little birthday display I'm creating for my husband 30th. (I always make a little table with the cake and some decorations) I live in a small apartment, I kind of think decorations look best when there are a lot in a really small space. I don't have photos of everything I want to do, but I'll throw up some of my general ideas. All which will be based around this tall-ish round table. Yes, I do all this for photo purposes. haha I've always made his cake so I wanted to do it again this year. My 30 year old husband is most definitely getting a funfetti cake because you are never too old for sprinkles. Ever.

XO

The way it is.

"I don't care what you think about me.

I don't think about you at all."

- C o c o   C h a n e l

Fairtytale Beauty

 

I want all these dresses....

Via Pinterest

Wednesday~

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bar....

Favorite.

Happy Summer.

I think it's fun to say the word "pom pom" as often as possible... ;)

BHLDN

I usually make my own pompoms, but I can't find good colors of tissue paper here. I'm seriously contemplating just buying these. They come in this set and it's only 24.00... I'll spend more on the supplies and butcher them so I'm thinking it's a worthy purchase. I was going to use them for my hubby's little display I'm doing for his 30th birthday. (I put the cake on the table and do some photos with a bit of decorations) I'll also just be keeping them up for a pop of color in my house. haha

I think he'll like his birthday. 

His gift was the tires, rims and lift on the Jeep. I think that's a very good 30th birthday gift. He was so happy, so I think that was perfect! I'm making him a little cake and we're getting dinner at some expensive steakhouse he's been wanting to try forever. Right now I'm trying to find the perfect card. I usually make them, but I'm out of all the supplies for that and my tablet it broken so trying to write with a mouse is freaking infuriating! SO Rifle Paper Co. should have something acceptable for his birthday. :)

Hello, Tuesday...

My music choices today are all over the map! I have Katy Perry, Enrique Iglesias, Adele and the Brave soundtrack. haha 

We survived Monday! I wonder why that's always my feeling. It's just a day but seriously, it's generally un-cool. I saw a thing that said: 

SHORTEST HORROR STORY EVER: MONDAY.

Sounds accurate enough for me! Anyway it is over and I'm happy. One day closer to Friday. haha I had a brilliant idea; I am making myself a portfolio via Artifact Uprising! How awesome is that? I never even thought about it until yesterday while talking to my mom! I figured it would be useful for interviews. The job I'm applying for is the first one that I'll ever be able to use my creative stuff in my resume! I'm so happy about that! I have only worked at a few places through out my life and loathed every one of them. The bank.... got that job at 15, then Hollister (kill me, I worked there for 5 hours and never showed up again, I was getting hit on by the managers the whole fricken time) Gap, which I didn't mind too much, but naturally right when I started working there the style of the clothes got horrible and last but not least, Anthropologie. Sadly only worked there for a couple weeks because of a situation that they wouldn't deal with and I was extremely uncomfortable with. Then of course there is my own business, Maddox and Klaus. I've been trying for a while to make this work as my only job, but I'm kind of clueless and have not been slapped with the lucky stick, so I would like something small and part time just to provide a regular pay check. So that is my plan for the summer. I'm working on my resume and new ideas for my shop. I'm going to get back into some stationary, too. I decided since I make lots of things I might as well throw it all in my shop. It all goes together! It's just time consuming and its getting pictures of it that is difficult for me. I only have my phone, so that's where I drop the ball! 

Alright, enough rambling... here are some fun things I found...

 I love these pots! I'm getting some succulents and I have been brainstorming what kinds of pots I want. Hands down, these lovelies win!

 Um, I want this print. Really bad. I absolutely love it.

 Confetti on the wall?! Why did I never think of this? Must.

I might actually make one of these. I will be using different colors of course, but I like the idea and it looks like something I can handle.

#Redlips mini photoshoot.

I got the noise reduction part of the photoshop app. Not too bad.

Lips are red Revlon balm.

Lovely

Via Pinterest.

I'd say this lovely outfit sums up my sense of style to perfection.

Love all of it. 

Lyrics

"This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me. Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows but you're not gonna' break my soul. This is the part of me that you're never gonna' ever take away from me."

Katy Perry, Part of Me.

I am currently in heart with this song.

I watched the Part of Me documentary and this song just makes me happy.

Katy Perry can sing and I know some of her songs are pretty much really inappropriate, as an artist I really appreciate her and her individuality. I live in LA... I know how hard and different it is to actually be yourself. Your real self, a self not influenced by those around you. Seems like a difficult fete for people here. I don't personally know why. It all seems weird. But I'm also not one who dictates their life based on the opinions of others. haha Thank God... I honest to God don't care what anyone thinks of me. At all. I think that will serve me well in this city of petty materialism. :)

Don't move to LA, kids. It's so not worth it. If you're normal you'll freak out. I'm surprised I haven't had very many break downs.

I did, however, acquire a $100.00 parking ticket. Which brings my total up to 400.00 paid to the city in the last year? Three of which were due to lazy parking meter people. I hate them.

Los Angeles: "Welcome home, b*&^%#$." 

That's kind of what it made me think of. haha No offense.

This city makes me want to pull my hair out.

I'm back!

Sorry I've been such a crazy slacker! I was on vacation for a little over a week and prior to that I was getting ready for my vacation and mentally planning my sister's graduation party! So I was busy! Then while I was bored and sitting in airports I tried to do an update via my blog app and the bloody thing refused to work. *sigh* Technology is my enemy sometimes.... 'most' times. Here it goes...

Our flight from hell...
Need I really say more? Our flight from Phoenix into Detroit of course would include a thunderstorm which I swear gave the pilots license to do quick nose dives to their heart's content which caused the entire plane to literally scream. Yes, SCREAM. I will say, after this experience, that is the absolute worst sound you could possible hear while flying. Aside from the horrific turbulence. I have made a firm decision that I really never want to die in a plane crash.... It was the longest 15 solid minutes of horror I have ever experienced... oh wait, no it wasn't because it happened AGAIN over Kansas (I believe)

Once we landed in the lovely (Ha) state of Michigan it was a downpour outside! But we made it alive and only slightly traumatized, though I admit I have nightmares for 2 days about dying. Lovely. Our flight attendant was amazing, though. Seriously lovely Texan woman who was just the sweetest lady. I am definitely fond of South West airlines and plan to fly with them every time.

While in Michigan:
I got home on a Wednesday night, snuggled my dog and chatted with my nocturnal brother and sister. The following day jet lag was insane and I swear we were exhausted for days! I started working on my sister's party stuff. We made garlands and blew up balloons. I made 100 cupcakes complete with fancy frosting (because I'm crazy) all in the all it turned out really good! The colors all worked great and my sister had a good time. The party provided me with a cheating way to see all my family, so I can't complain about that! I was able to introduce my husband to a family friend who is from Germany and she is just an incredible lady, we love talking to her. It was funny to see Danny's eye's light up when they were talking about traveling and this woman has an incredible life story. Seriously, one of my favorite people. haha

Our trip ended too soon with not enough relax time, but I think no matter how long of a vacation we had we wouldn't want to return to LA and work. haha Just the way it is! I think of a saying I've heard over the years.... "If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to want a glass of milk..."
Agreed. You give me a week off with my husband, I'm going to want 10 weeks off.

Flight back to LA...
Including another store, with more scary experiences, but we lived so I don't need to go into all those details. We ended up having to get a rental car because the jeep was in an off roading shop getting a lift and new tires and rims for my husband's 30th birthday! HE'S TURNING 30 IN 17 DAYS! Poor guy is so depressed. haha I think It's sexy. Men pull off 30's the best! I plan on getting a nice dinner from Boa and making him a mini birthday cake complete with a little decoration display; pretty excited about it.

Anyway, that is my personal life update... I hope everyone has been well over the last couple weeks! Check back soon, I'm back in the swing of things now so my updates will be more consistent until September (which is vacation number 2 to Maine)

Happy Monday, or whatever.... ;)
XO

Jewelry by Yours Truly (me)

Maddox and Klaus

{here}

This is one of my favorite necklaces that I have made so far. I handpainted the beads in colors that I love. The designs are inspired by kid art.

I try to keep my prices decent. I personally know how it feels to love something you find and the price is just insane. Absolutely no offense to the amazing artists who create some of the most unique goodies I have ever seen, just personally I want to gear my products around almost every price range. In the future you may see things that will turn out to be a bit higher in cost, but I strive to keep my items versatile and obtainable to even a broke teenager. :)

My mind is overflowing with ideas. I actually have a gazillion products, getting them online takes work! Photographing jewelry is turning out to be the hardest part of my business! So be patient and check out my other lovelies. 

xo

Automobile love

I'm in love. I'm totally doing this to the beetle I'm getting. Priority. 

Beautiful.
 

Gorgeous

I was browsing my photos on my old laptop and stumbled on this gem.

Ashley Green, so gorgeous in this photo. Love it.

Happy Tuesday, lovelies.

Yup

 

Anniversary Weekend

Six years ago I married my favorite person in the world. I was a young bride, 20 years old and despite people believing that every 20 year old is too young to be married, I must remind you that agenda is new. People have been getting married young for hundreds of years. I'm proud to say I married young and I'm proud to say that even having been married very young our marriage has lasted longer than some of those who's age is deemed 'appropriate'. It isn't age that makes a marriage work or fail, it's a state of mind. A choice. I choose to never give up on us. We've been through the ups and downs that a lot of couples won't see in 10 years together and still we come out united and determined. :) Thank you, my darling husband, for being an amazing man with amazing character, strength and determination. I'm proud of you and very proud to call you mine. :)