Life is grand. *sigh* Here's what I've been up to lately: (scroll down for specials at JillryLove.com!)
At the request of friends, I am posting about my new FULL TIME business venture: Jillry.
Yes, you heard right! I am finally devoting all of my attention on my jewelry business. After 13 years of jewelry making, this day has finally come. I can hardly believe it, I just want to pinch myself!!!
Screeeeeech! Hold up a second. I was prodded by the beautiful Lindsey to tell my story. So, grab a coffee, tea, or whatever choice of caffeine you may have and have a seat with me.
All my life I've sort of bounced from job to job. I graduated from LSU in Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design. My senior year I was contacted by a local photographer/graphic designer who wanted me to join his company as soon as I graduated. It felt like a dream come true. Two years later and I was twiddling my thumbs on the job. Graphic design is a very competitive field and the work just wasn't there.
I moved on to an association management firm where I managed associations and planned their conferences. Stayed there two years. Learned a LOT including patience and self worth. I learned not to ever let anyone talk down to you, no matter how much higher up on the totem pole they are from you. I also met a lot of dear, dear friends that I still stay in touch with to this day. One I call my BFF. One strong gal helped me find my spiritual side. You get the point.
Bounce, bounce and I ended up being administrative assistants to real estate agents. I loved the organization part, I was bored to tears with the rest. Exactly two weeks ago (on a Wednesday) my boss called me into his office at 4:30pm. Told me he was sorry, but he had to let me go. Again, I was in a situation where the business just wasn't there. (Damn economy.) I was told he admitted he felt sick letting me go. Which of course made me feel a tiny bit better... :)
The past few weeks I've been on the job search, but to be honest I wasn't seeing anything that was setting me on fire. While I was submitting my resumes, I was doing so half-heartedly. In the meantime, I was home doing what I love best: making jewelry and NESTING.
Man can this woman nest. J was walking in the door every evening to a fragrant home with dinner on the table, our surroundings clean and tidy, laundry done and I would even get a wild hair and take the trash out - eh hmm, HIS job ladies!
Monday my friend Michelle texted me, telling me to bug the lady she works with who I sent my resume to the week before. So, I did. The lady told me there were two job opportunities, but that I had to do some testing first. She sends me 30+ miles into town to "test", fill out a gazillion forms and watch a stinking video. I was there for over 2 hours.
Needless to say, I was exhausted and antsy to get home when I was done. Driving home, I thought about this possible job opp. Every single bone in my body was screaming NOOOO!!! Don't do it!! How can I not? I would sass back at myself. I have to get a job. But I don't want another desk job!! Yes, I'm crazy like that.
About ten minutes of dreaming and I had my mom on the phone. I always call her when I need to talk things out, find clarity and get an opinion that matters. She was excited and supported the idea I had of trying to work on my jewelry business full time. She even offered to help me when I got busy!!
The second I walked in the door I went straight to my ledger, worked on numbers until it made sense. I. Can. Do. This. I thought, my heart soaring.
Two hours later dinner is cooked and I'm nervously waiting on J to get home so I can "present" my idea to him. He shows up, gives me my kisses and heads for the shower. I can hardly wait to sit down to dinner to tell him! I make our plates, head toward the table and KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
You have GOT to be kidding me. My sis and nephew have stopped by for a visit. We eat dinner while chit chatting and J turns his head to me and says: So how was your job thing today?
I squirm in my seat a little. Can we talk about it after company leaves? I ask. I love my sister and nephew, but at this point I was considering physically picking them up and tossing them out the door. They left soon after my comment.
When I did tell J he seemed very tentative... he didn't show any emotion but said he felt that if I could make it work, then great. I could always go back to work if it didn't, right?
I tried not to let it get me down. I knew in my heart that I could make it work.
The next morning I received 3 orders before 10am. I was sure to text him about it. Later in the day I received a text from him stating that while he realizes he doesn't show it, he's excited and happy for me.
And now we're here. :) Today was my second day on the job and I am crazy in love. I was meant to do this. I've been dreaming about opening my own boutique one day and it actually feels doable at this point.
So that's it! Here I am, sitting in my pajama pants in a clean, uncluttered house with a pot of red beans and rice on, blogging my little heart out. Next I'll package up all my orders for the day. Maybe I'll create more new items, or work on the custom orders I have waiting for me. I am my own boss. Ahhhh!!!!
There's so much more to say, but I'm going to close shop for now. I have some creating to do. *beam*
xo Jill
A peek at what we get to wake up to every morning.
(She's not being her usual self in this first attempt video. We believe she's camera shy.)
This morning I threw a curveball at you guys:
What song(s) trigger a memory for you? I really enjoyed reading about your memories and the songs that brought them to life.
I had a hard time thinking of one song that really stood out for me. The song(s) that kept popping into my head are ones that bring memories of my parents back in the day.
Journey, and specifically the song Faithfully brings a memory from a very young age of my mother and father dancing in the den. I remember sitting indian style, my legs tucked under my nightgown before bed while the old radio was playing. I can see my mom and dad dancing; my daddy being silly and making my mom giggle.
One more: Rascal Flatts The Broken Road. This song... It is everything I feel about the journey of my life and J's life before we became a couple. We've known each other since we were 15 years old, crushed on each other, loved each other's company and humor. Since high school, we've been in and out of each other's lives. Making our mistakes, learning, growing, finding out what we want out of life and finally meeting somewhere in the middle along the broken road. Just listen to the lyrics - I can't without choking up.
My picks this week - yes, I gathered them up! These are all from my feel-good music selection.
Bloc Party – I Will Remember
Santigold – Lights Out
Muse – Starlight
Silver Sun Pickups – Lazy Eye
Jack’s Mannequin – The Resolution
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Michelle
Heart Shaped Box (cover of Nirvina)- Amy Lee
The Animal in Me - Motley Crue
There for You - Flyleaf
I Feel it All - Feist
Hear Me Out - Frou Frou
The song that triggers a memory: Right Here Waiting by Richard Marks.
In Michelle's words: When David was over seas for work, I would listen to that song over and over again. I would call him and play it...I even emailed him the lyrics. I cried myself to sleep many nights playing that song. We had only been dating about 6 months when he left for Africa. And I was right there waiting for him when he got off that plane. The moment he stepped of that plane that song started playing in my head as he walked towards me in slow motion. I knew at that moment that he would be the man I would marry. On our wedding day, as I was standing there in my big white dress and veil, the doors opened and I saw him standing on the other end of the asle. Our eyes met and he had that very same look on his face as he did the day he stepped of that plane. I didn't see anything else and neither did he...I will never forget the look in his eyes. Later when we were looking at wedding pictures he told me he didn't even remember seeing my daddy walking me down the isle!
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Christie
The song that triggers a memory (In Christie's words): Such a question for a Monday morning! So I'll just say that the self title album, in general, by Third Eye Blind, has huge memories for me. We listened to that, along with Korn, Dr. Dre, and Eminem coming home Highway 101 from California with our friend, Paul. It was the longest drive of our life, but we talked the whole time about everything. This cd was playing when we were driving along the ocean, and we decided to pull over because the moon looked like it literally was going to fall into the ocean, and the ocean was so close to the road. We played in the water, leaving the doors to the car open and listened the the music. It was peaceful and I don't think I've had another moment like that again.
Butthole Surfers - Pepper
Radiohead -High and Dry
Aqualung - Brighter Than Sunshine
Staind: Outside, So Far Away, Right Here Waiting
Franz Ferdinand - Do You Know Girls
Metric - Help, I'm Alive
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Jodi
Augustana - Hey Now
The Sundays - When I'm Thinking About You
Liz Phair - Friend of Mine
Kalan Porter - True Colors
Song that triggers a memory (In Jodi's words): Rachmaninoff Theme from Paginini - saw the movie Somewhere in Time with my fiancé at the time. I loved this classical music that was woven throughout the movie. The credits rolled by so quickly that I couldn't get the entire title so he went up to the projection booth and asked them to let us see the title. They took the lens of the camera and used it to magnify the words so we could write it down. I wanted it in our wedding but we couldn't find the music so a family member handwrote the music so it could be played. Subsequently we named our daughter after the main character in the movie.
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Roxanne
What music triggers memories (In Rox's words): Yesterday, I was in a downloading frenzy, as our 20th wedding anniversary is coming up and I've been reflecting on all the music that reminds me of my hubby...stuff we've listened to over the years. I know I always bag on the boom-chang music, but I have always loved dancing with him, two stepping, old time waltzes, you name it.
This is a sampling of what I downloaded.
I'm Not Strong Enough To Say No - Blackhawk
Headin' West - Dan Seals (We listened to this album when we first got together)
Fast Movin' Train - Restless Heart
Some Fools Never Learn - Steve Wariner
Where've You Been - Kathy Mattea
Sold (The Grundy County Auction) - John Michael Montgomery (OMG I get dizzy just THINKING about dancing to this one!)
When I'm Away From You - The Bellamy Brothers (I could do a whole blog post about what this song does to me...)
20 Years Ago - Kenny Rogers (This is the first song we ever danced to)
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Kelly
Unkle Bob- Swan
Leeann Rimes- What I Cannot Change
Tegan and Sara- Dark Come Soon
Mandy Moore- Gardenia
Lifehouse- Storm
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I just have to say that Sara B's song Gravity has been in my head since the dance Kayla & Kupono did on addiction on SYTYCD. The dance was breath-taking and brought tears to my eyes it was so moving.... that song, I feel, was what made the choreography that much more powerful.
If you wanna hear it pronto, its playing on my blog ipod now...
Keep remembering.
xo Jill
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If you want to participate in Music Share, simply shoot me an email at blueeyez055@aol.com (or leave a comment with your email) and I'll put you on the mailing list. Every Monday morning I send out an email prodding you for your newest favorites. Simply reply - to me only - with your 5 songs and I'll include them in my Monday Music Share post.
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I'm generally a pretty happy person. Mornings are my thing, so I usually wake up picking around with my husband and mini monster puppy. I find joy in cooking, tidying and - *gasp* - even laundry. Lately nesting is all I want to do.
Yesterday J and I had lunch with the parents at this great lil pizza joint. I am now in heart with that little place because of a small yet highly significant conversation J and I had there about a month ago. Yes, I can make even hole-in-the-wall pizza joints sentimental these days...
At Home Depot later, we tried to make sense of paint colors for our kitchen. Purchased a funky lamp for the den and some outdoor solar lights for the flower beds. Going home and putting everything together and in their new places felt awesome. It made me HAPPY.
I then happily grilled steaks and made julienned potatoes while my hard working hubbers relaxed on the couch. Worried a little when he ate less than I, but let it go when he called me outdoors to look at the night sky. Pink cotton candy clouds floating along the dark blue and it was so beautiful.
Life is good, I thought. Its been my mantra for over a month now.
Mini took off after the neighbor's cat for the 148th time. J hollered at her to come back and I shrugged. She'll come back eventually, I said, not bothered in the least. This usually bothers the tar outta me and I'm sure to give her the stink eye and cold shoulder when she misbehaves. Instead I shrugged it off.
What's that about?
*sigh* So, my point. Is there just so much happiness in the world? Will this go away? Can I keep it for a little while longer? And most importantly, how in the world can it get any better??
I think it will. I just hope it doesn't burst this lovely bubble I've been living in.
Evening ladies!
First of all I must make a couple comments about this week's music choices.
Christie's music selections -High five on Sir Mix A Lot! And Landslide? Dear to my heart. The first time I heard that song I knew it would be the song I danced with my daddy to at my wedding.
I'm always amazed at how Kell is one step ahead of me on songs. I had Jordin Sparks on my list this week and wondered" #1 - Am I too old to listen to Jordin Sparks? and #2 - Is it silly that I like her new song Battlefield? I don't watch, and due to a singing phobia cannot watch, American Idol. SO, I don't hold that against her, but just knowing she was on it makes me feel a little lame for liking her music. However, Kelly is one cool chic and therefore it is confirmed to be COOL to listen to J. Sparks.
Jodi - seriously? Your music is downloaded onto my iPod every.single.week.
And now for my choices:
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Pride & Joy
Sarah McLaughlin - Silence
Christina Milian - Dip It Low
Def Leppard - Love Bites
Maxwell - This Woman's Work
A quite spastic mix of music, if I do say so myself. Pride & Joy is me and J's song and evokes serious kissie-faced-ness; Silence gives me chills every time I play it; Dip It Low makes me want to run (have you ever SEEN THIS VIDEO??); Love Bites is just awesome hair band goodness; and This Woman's Work isn't nearly as strong unless you watched the choreography made for it on SYTYCD (recent episode) . Tear.Jerker.
And now for your picks this week:
Jodi
T-Pain - Freeze
A Fine Frenzy - Lifesize
Marc Broussard - Gavin's Song
Missy Higgins - Scar
Sara Bareilles - Everyday Stranger
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Kelly
Keri Hilson- Knock You Down
Jordin Sparks- Battlefield
Ani Difranco- You Had Time
Gomez- How We Operate
Roisin Murphy- Ruby Blue
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Christie
Stevie Nicks
- Crystal
- Landslide
Queen
-Somebody to Love
-You're My Best Friend
-Another One Bites the Dust
-Under Pressure
Poe
-Hello
-Beautiful Girl
Sir Mix-A-Lot SEATTLE REPRESENT!!!!!!!!!!!
-My Posse's on Broadway
-Buttermilk Biscuit's
-Squaredance Rap
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Thanks for participating!
Dance all night.
xo Jill
___________________________________
If you want to participate in Music Share, simply shoot me an email at blueeyez055@aol.com (or leave a comment with your email) and I'll put you on the mailing list. Every Monday morning I send out an email prodding you for your newest favorites. Simply reply - to me only - with your 5 songs and I'll include them in my Monday Music Share post.
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