I'm ALIVE!

Hey everyone. Believe it or not I'm alive. I know I haven't been updating frequently and it's because a whole bunch of stuff has gone down in my little world in the past two weeks.

The Spring '09 semester came to a close, to which I managed to pull off a 3.75 GPA and make it on to the Dean's Honor List AGAIN! I had a full load too, I'm talking 19 semester units and 6 classes. Whew. Thank God that's over.

Summer is here and the weather has been so nice (minus today's weird overcast). A few weeks ago I found out that Apple would not be hiring me on after my internship resulting in panic attacks and mini breakdowns worrying about how I'm going to survive this summer being unemployed. The following week I landed a job working for the State of California Dept. of Justice Treasury as a Research assistant. (Say that three times fast.)

This past week has been rather relaxed for me as I went camping with my family for Memorial Day for our annual camping get together. I worked part time for Apple, very part time in fact and spent my afternoons snuggling with puppies and pining for the Sims 3 release which is tomorrow. I have been focusing more on my future career plans and have laid low on the craft front, but did however manage to make it to Maker Faire this past weekend with the love of my life on our 6 year anniversary. I'm still doing the pet craft thing but I'm slowly turning it into a hobby instead of a form of business. Future plans of attending Second Saturdays and maybe a craft show here and there are still in the works, but nothing too serious.

I have found my calling in graphic and web design and I want to embrace it completely and I believe that making crafts a main priority would only postpone my career plans. For all my crafty friends out there, don't turn your backs on me just yet, I still have lots of crafty juices running through my vanes. I just don't want to back myself into yet another craft corner.

Today was my last day working for Apple and I got a brand new Macbook to celebrate. Tomorrow the Sims 3 releases and you might not hear from me again as I will probably not sleep for the next week. Just kidding. I have to sleep because I start my new job on Wednesday.

I'm glad to be back and I hope you are too.

:D

Stumble It!

Updates and a Contest!

Everyday for the past few days, I have taken the time to update the Charming Co. website. Slowly but surely things are falling into place. The site has been cleaned up and I am happy to announce it is almost complete and ready for a full relaunch. I have opened the doors for a tiny peek so that you all can see what I have been up to.

Please take some time and click around the new site. There are new sections including Tutorials, Collars, and Upcoming shows.

And, because I would love to hear some feedback I will be having a contest for a free Musica dog collar. (See left)

Here are the rules to enter:
-Go to the new site and pick out one thing you like so far or one thing you would like to see on the site.
-Come back and leave a comment with your email address.

The winner will be announced next Monday, November 17th. I will be contacting the winner via email to retrieve the needed size of the collar. I can't wait to hear your input.

Thank you and good luck!

Decisions, Decisions.

Lately, I have been feeling rather scatter brained. Running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Continuously thinking, rethinking, evaluating and reevaluating my situation. My life. My future. This past week was amazing and yet at the exact same time heart breaking. Obama was elected president of the United States (I'm sure everyone knows this) and yet in my home state of California, my rights, as well as millions of other homosexuals, were taken away. Now, I do not want to dwindle on the subject as I have spent many a nights crying because of this result, but I must say my heart aches because of this injustice.

Justine and I have been talking about getting married for some time now, as we have been together for almost 5 and a half years this month. For most of you who do not know me that's 1/4 of my life. Yes a 1/4 of my life I have been with one person. She is my high school sweetheart and love of my life and if you do not agree with my lifestyle, that's fine. We all love the same regardless. This past week we have been talking about starting a family when I graduate college. Starting a family has been something I have wanted to do since I was a baby myself. This time around we are committed. There are still 3 semesters that separate us from our goal of marriage and a family, but we are on our way.

Not only have I been contemplating my future with Justine, but my ultimate idea of what I want to be "when I grow up" has been changing, evolving, and transforming before my eyes. Although, Sacramento State, is taking away the web development certificate program due to budget cuts, I am still attempting to pursue that avenue of career. I have been interested in making websites for some time now, but finally dedicated myself to learning earlier this year. Not only has web design tickled my fancy, but I also want to create graphics such as vectors and other web graphics. At the time being I have been tampering with free programs such as PhotoScape, Ink Scape, and Gimp. I am currently taking a class at my university as well to help hone my skills. Creating graphics and graphic design has been a passion of mine lately, a passion that has changed my mind about my future career. Of course I would LOVE to have my career be craft related and ultimately be the success of Charming Co. But, I would like to have a stable income and a "real" career.

This week I have a meeting with my major advisor, who will either confirm or transform my goal. There needs to be some major decisions made and I am ready to finally make them. I cannot wait, and I am more than excited to get this ball on the road. And from the bottom of my heart I thank every one of you who reads this blog and keeps me going in this venture of the unknown.

:D

Sneak Peek

Psst! I'm working on the Charming Co. website. There is far more to come, but take a moment to head over to the site and let me know what you think.

:D

Today I also ordered all the hardware I will need to assemble the collars for my new line of collars, leashes, and key fobs. All that is needed now are the fabrics, but where or where are all the fabrics hiding?!

Updated website

Hey everyone! Come and see how good my site looks!

The Charming Co. Website has been updated and has new pictures, a new banner, and a few other new goodies. Check out the new and improved updated site!!

Make sure to check the blog tomorrow, there will be TONS of new pictures to show off the brand spankin' new items I've been creating. Also there might be another giveaway? You never know.

Update Goodness

Loves,

I know you've missed me. You must have. I know I missed you all. So, life has been busy, busy, busy in my little Charmingland. The fam (Justine, Stephnay, Ralphie, Brutus) and I have been on a search for a house. We currently inhabit a 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 900 sq. foot apartment, and the boys need a backyard. We started looking for a house with at least 3 bedrooms and 2 baths but we are only twenty-somethings and cannot afford a house with those specifications for our budget. Well if we wanted to move to the deep ghetto and risk our cars and safety we could afford it. Just today we got lucky by finding 3 houses in our price range and literally right around the corner and down the street. We jumped on the closest house and did a walk through and fell in LOVE.

This house is just down the street a bit and has two bedrooms, one bath, 1 car garage, a JACUZZI, a decent backyard for the boys, and an extra GAME ROOM. Can you say Score?! We came home right quick and filled out our applications and we should hear back sometime tomorrow if we got the place or not. The owner wants to move fast so by August 1st if we get into the house we will be moving.

On the flipside of things I have updated the Charming Co. website. so head on over and see the new additions. There will be a photo gallery of people who have purchased items as well as pics from past vending events.

Stay tuned for more lovelies!