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Be There Or Be A Dork!

May 3, 2012

So much has been happening~ I promise to catch you up very soon. I’ve been out of town, sort of going in a new direction with a couple book-related projects (others’ books, not mine…YET), enjoying this nice weather we’ve been having, getting ready for company (tonight!) to be here for a couple of weeks~Staci Frenes, woohoo!, and working my bohunkus off for the Wild Ruffle Pop Up Shop.

My trip away will get its own post~ it was magical. I desperately needed the break and it was absolutely wonderful.

TONIGHT is the Pop Up Shop! I can hardly believe it’s already here. It seems all good things are happening TONIGHT~ why is it always that way? I’m missing some great things…BUT the place to be is downtown Prior Lake. The cute, quaint shops in downtown Prior Lake~ near the cross point of Hwy 13 and Cty Rd 21~ are partnering with local vendors (that’s me!) for this boutique crawl. If it’s raining, the vendors will be inside the shops. If it’s perfect weather, like yesterday, the vendors will be in front of the shops. Snacks, beverages and fun conversation will be flowing. I know from the last Wild Ruffle Pop Up Shop I was part of, it will all be GOOD STUFF.

Greyley will hopefully be there with me tonight~ she was feeling punky during the night, so I’m not sure what to expect this morning. As I write this, I do hear her rustling around, getting ready for school, so that’s a good sign. Her headbands are kickin’ this time. And I love having her by my side~ we can be nervous, silly geeks together.

My new jewelry is workin’…I know this because I want to keep just about every piece. This is my method of selling~ make what I love and be fine about selling out because I can always make more OR be happy when I don’t sell out because I have a brand new collection of necklaces. I do get attached to some! But, tonight, don’t worry, you’ll be able to pry my fingers off the lovelies when I hand them to you in a nice little drawstring bag.

Please come say hi~ I’ll be at Flowers Naturally on Main Avenue.

Click HERE to see all the participating shops and vendors…

Posted in Fashion, Fun, Headbands, Jewelry, May 2012, Minnesota, Shopping, The Arts | 2 Comments »

Boutique Crawl

April 12, 2012

Three weeks from today~ Thursday, May 3rd from 5:30-9:00 PM~ I will be part of a boutique crawl in downtown Prior Lake. The Wild Ruffle Pop-Up Shop!

Greyley and I were part of the last Wild Ruffle Pop-Up Shop and had such a great time that we were excited when Cate invited us again. I wasn’t even sure where Prior Lake was located and found myself pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t too far from my house. The town is so cute and for this next event, the downtown shops are going to be as much a part of the evening as the vendors lining the streets. Hopefully the weather will be perfection and we will make new friends and shop ’til we drop.

I’ll give you a little reminder about it in a couple of weeks. Greyley and I would love to see some familiar faces. We’ve got lots to do between now and then. There’s jewelry and headbands to be made, folks! We both have a good amount of inventory going already, but it seems we always get inspired with some NEW HAREBRAINED IDEAS OF FABULOUSNESS at the very last minute before every new show. What will it be this time? I’m scared to even let my mind go there…but there’s still time…a little bit of precious time…

Cate is featuring us today on her blog for the upcoming event. For more details, you can also check out the Wild Ruffle Pop-Up Shop Facebook page…and while you’re on Facebook, why don’t you visit my new Girly Muse Facebook page too. Feel free to “LIKE” it! It will come in handy one day, I promise.

Since today seems to be Happy Link Day~ I may as well add a few more, so you can click to your heart’s content. Greyley made it through the first round of speeches at her school for the Optimist International Oratorical Contest. It’s an honor and we’re tickled pink for her. This morning, she will go through another round. As soon as she is finished, we’re off to sing/play with the ABC Youth Choir at Concordia. Tonight, I will be attending the Madame Butterfly Blogger Preview night. Maybe I will see some of you lovely bloggers there.

Have a glorious Thursday. XO

Posted in ABC Youth Choir, April 2012, Bloggers, Creativity, Fashion, Fun, Headbands, Jewelry, Shopping | 2 Comments »

March 2, 2012

So a ton of people are all about Pinterest these days and I don’t blame them~ it’s a lot of fun. It’s the next big thing and another addicting vice. I’ve tried to limit myself on there because before I know it, I can get sucked into a world of pretty pictures and huge chunks of time have passed.

A friend sent me this link yesterday and if you like Pinterest like I do, you must check it out. Click HERE to read the post on Fashion Copious from Business Insider. It makes me extremely nervous, especially the fact that it’s not enough to give a photographer credit~ you actually should be getting their permission. Eek!

I’d really like your thoughts. Did you know about these legality terms? Do you follow them? Does it make you reconsider using Pinterest?

Please discuss.

Posted in Fashion, Fun, March 2012, Photography, Recipes | 15 Comments »

Shopping, Music and Naps

November 11, 2011

I’m off to The Library again today…

Here’s a look at my space. It’s a peaceful place, surrounded by musical instruments and books. What could be better?

I am distracted over all of the above, but wanted to quickly remind you that Rachel’s Holiday Shopping Boutique is TOMORROW at Mt. Zion Lutheran in Minneapolis. I’m excited to see all the pretty things and happy to be seeing those of you who have mentioned you’re coming. It’s going to be great fun. Come keep me company AND get your Christmas shopping done! There will even be an area for the kids to buy their Christmas presents in peace.

The charitable beneficiary is The Michelle Project, an organization that helps people with financial need become more self sufficient.

Greyley and I have been working hard to get new merchandise ready for tomorrow after our show last weekend. There are some pieces I like so much, I ~~sorta~~ hope they ~~don’t~~ sell. I do wear the rejects, after all.

After this weekend, I will need a nice, long nap.

Posted in Christmas, Creativity, Fashion, November 2011 | 3 Comments »

A Cow Horse and Other Interesting Things

November 8, 2011

Hello! It feels like I’ve been gone for ages. I haven’t, it’s just that I’m addicted to my computer and when I take even a short break, it feels like forever. It’s good to be back and the break was great too.

Saturday was so fun. The Wild Ruffle Pop-Up Shop was a huge success. It stayed busy the entire time…

I put these pictures on Instagram (my latest fun addiction!) and Facebook, so for some of you, this is old hat. ha! But silly me, now that I have this high-falutin’ phone, I can’t seem to remember my trusty camera. (Grr!)

Me and my girl setting up for the show…and look, there’s Elaina on the right!

Our hard work paid off…we had too much stuff! Our table was overflowing.

Greyley got new business cards. (Look up just a smidge!) So cute! And speaking of Greyley…her headbands were a HIT. This is the first time she’s sold the headbands at a show (remember the friendship bracelets, collaged vases, fairies and knitted hats?) and everyone LOVED them. It was beyond fun to see her so excited.

She added the feather ones to her collection, which did really great, but she still outsold them by far with the wire headbands.

She’s a bit concerned because we have another show coming up this Saturday~ Rachel’s Holiday Boutique ~ and she sold most of her inventory. I have to get back to work this week too…a good problem to have. Whew. So thankful!

On our way home, we saw a cow horse. It caught us off guard so much, we had to turn the car around to get a better look. Right as I pulled over and snapped the picture, he began moving. So pretty. So freaky. Wish you could see all of him~ it’s the mane that just makes you shake your head and go, “What is wrong with this picture?”

You know…not that actual picture, but…

Ahem, anyway.

While we were out, Nate and Indigo were spending time with Dave/Crockboy, Nate’s best friend since forever. We haven’t seen Dave and Terri in ages, so it was such a treat to be able to spend the whole day together. Indigo was trailing Dave by the time I got home~ he met a kindred spirit and will be his buddy for life.

We spent time looking at this…

It was so peaceful…so wonderful to be with dear friends. My heart was full. We lingered over the fire, talking and laughing. Greyley did a mean Hula Dancer wobble head impression on a log…you know, the good stuff.

Later, we found a great restaurant~ The Local in Minneapolis~ I want to go back there! The Chicken Curry was delicious. And finally, we ended up at The Dakota where Nate went onstage at midnight (ugh) with Erica West. Such a fun show.

(Billy Franze, Erica West, Kevin Anderson, and Nate)

And hey, we gained an hour.

For such a busy day, my heart felt like it had been on vacation. It was healing, being with such dear friends. To have that time together was such a gift.

Now, onto this week…I always like that first morning after we fall back, but then don’t care for being ready for bed at 8:30 PM the following nights. This week should be interesting. It’s another crazy one. Maybe next week will be calm again. Oh, how I hope. XO

Posted in Family, Fashion, Friends, Fun, Girlyness, Headbands, Jewelry, November 2011 | 6 Comments »

Yippee, it’s almost here!

November 4, 2011

I’ve been out of commission this week, for the most part, putting the finishing touches on my merchandise (that sounds so official!~ I promise my things are way more fun than that stuffy word) for the Wild Ruffle Pop-Up Shop.

I’ve had this one looking on the whole time…encouraging me.

There are headbands galore~ Greyley is going with me! Woohoo! So far, she has 43 headbands made and I’m sure by tomorrow, she’ll have gotten a few more done. I am so happy to have her with me~ not only is it fun girl time, but she is like my full-sized security blanket.

Necklaces are hanging everywhere. There are lots of them that I just want to KEEP, so that’s hopefully a good sign.

The girls are taking over…

A tree here and there…

One more long day of finishing up and I think we’ll be ready for tomorrow! Here’s all the info about the Wild Ruffle Pop-Up Shop again…

Posted in Creativity, Fashion, Headbands, Jewelry, November 2011 | 9 Comments »

Murder, Shopping and Mismatched Socks

October 10, 2011

I went and had too much fun this weekend.

I may or may not be dragging just a wee bit this morning.

Brace yourself for a rambling, subject-hopping post.

We had great times with all kinds of friends, delicious food, music, Rummikub, lots of laughs, long chats and late nights. This is what I would normally think of as the Dog Days of Summer, except…it isn’t. The weather continues to amaze and delight me. Maybe if I sing its praises enough, it will hang around for a LONG time. Please, no one say they wish for cold weather~ you know who you are, little stinkers~ it will be here soon enough! Let’s pretend summer is here to stay…or fall…whatever we’re calling this heavenly weather, I will KEEP IT!

I was concerned about lack of work when school started, but now I seem to have more than enough. There are a few fun projects in the works~ Jonathan and I are writing together again. We made a movie together last year and are working on a new screenplay together for an upcoming movie. I’m really excited about it and will tell you more about that as things progress. Cross your fingers and toes and send up some prayers and warm wishes that it will all go smoothly…and that it will all fall into place exactly as it should.

I’m also working on jewelry and artwork for 2 wonderful boutiques that are coming up in November~ The Wild Ruffle Pop-Up Shop in Prior Lake (Sat., Nov. 5th, 9AM-1PM) and Rachel’s Holiday Shopping Boutique in Minneapolis (Sat., Nov. 12th, 10AM-4PM). Click the links for more details. I hope you can come be part of these events! It’s going to be a blast and will be FULL of treasures! I can’t even believe all the amazing vendors that will be there. Cate, over at the Wild Ruffle, is regularly featuring the different artists that will be at the Pop-Up Shop and I cannot wait to meet all of them. Also, between now and the Pop-Up Shop, if you buy something from my shop and put in “Wild Ruffle” when you’re ordering, you will get 20% off!

On a completely different tangent, I believe my kids have magically sprouted into Tall Creatures over the last week. I promise, I’m not even making it up. We had to go shoe shopping in a big way~ with kids there really are times when they can truthfully say, “I have absolutely NOTHING TO WEAR!” Or at least not that they really should wear around other discerning humans. Last night I noticed that Greyley’s pajama bottoms are about 3 inches too short. She’s wearing my shoes and is just about to pass me up in height…any day now. She’s seriously looking like a legitimate ~~teenager~~ twenty year old right now.

For several years now, Greyley has worn mismatched socks…wayyyy before it was cool. It used to REALLY bug me when I did laundry and NONE of her socks matched. She’s convinced me of the beauty in it now…it makes sock sorting, or the lack thereof, a breeze. Now, they actually sell socks that way~none of them match, just blend~ oh wonder of wonders! You’d think she’d struck gold, she was so tickled by this find.

We have been inundated with fruit flies/gnats for the last two weeks. They are driving me mad, which led to a crazy murdering spree. Hundreds of gnat corpses have been “taken care of” and somehow more just keep on appearing. I’m a bit manic about it. If you’ve read Girly Muse for very long, you know I have a sickness about anything in mass quantity. It’s a sure way to send me over the edge, even if it’s something I like in singles. I would never like a gnat, single or otherwise, just so we’re clear. I’ve tried the raw apple cider vinegar trick and it kills about a dozen, but doesn’t seem to phase the other 50. Any suggestions? One just crawled over my computer screen, I kid you not. They’re tormenting me, the little wretches.

Well, now that your brain is fully addled for the day~ welcome to my world!~ I bid you, “Good day!” Have a happy Monday Funday and be silly no matter what. XO

Posted in Creativity, Fashion, Jewelry, Kids, Movies, October 2011, Shoe Love, Shopping, The Arts | 3 Comments »

Eat My Words

October 6, 2011

I’m having to totally eat my words because of THIS post. I’ve been almost scared to say anything about it, it’s been so perfect.

We are having the best Fall I EVER remember having in Minnesota. It’s been unseasonably warm, the leaves are going through remarkable changes and STILL STAYING ON THE TREES (!), and the nights are so pleasant.

If every Fall were like this, I wouldn’t be able to help but adore it!

I am knocking on wood with every word I type. Oh, please, please stay this way a little (LOT) longer!

Dare I say, this delightful weather brings out the best in me?

Photograph by Matt Khoury

Yes, yes, I believe it does.

In other fun news, I am wearing clothes from the Clothing Swap every day and loving them. In fact, the jacket in the picture above is from the Swap! Woohoo! I got 4 dresses, 1 jacket, 1 skirt, and a pair of pants. Greyley got 4 dresses, 2 skirts, 2 shirts, 3 hats, and 2 sets of fingerless gloves. It’s such a great idea. Thanks again, Jillie, for putting together this fabulous yearly event. I know it’s a lot of work, but there’s lots of us who are reaping the benefits!

Enjoy your day. I am going to bask in the sunshine at some point today…it just has to be done.

Posted in Fall, Fashion, October 2011 | 11 Comments »

New Wardrobe

October 3, 2011

There was a Major Party going on in the Funky Barn on Saturday. Get a whole bunch of girls together, hundreds of articles of clothing and you have a Ginormous Clothing Swap. Jill asked me to host it in the barn and I was happy to do it, especially with such great help. Only in the very beginning (see below) did the tables and racks show bare spaces. After everyone starting bringing their bags of clothes, there was a constant turnover of new things coming in for the duration of the Swap. It was so fun.

Cute little hat display~ these emptied and refilled quickly!

It was a blast visiting with old friends and meeting new friends…while SHOPPING! I’m excited to see everyone’s pictures. I sort of got distracted with the food area, seeing Greyley try on cute things and visiting with everyone~ I didn’t get as many good pictures as I’d hoped!

Look at one of the sweet dresses Greyley found…

And here’s a brown one that I love!

I found another dress that still has the tags on it. WOO. HOO.

Thanks everyone, for making the Swap such a success! Everyone involved helped a good cause~ Dress for Success in the Twin Cities, helped each other gain entirely new wardrobes, AND had a great time in the process.

Posted in Fashion, October 2011 | 6 Comments »

For the Locals~ Clothes Swap

September 26, 2011

This Saturday, October 1st, from 2-7 PM, a great party will be taking place inside my barn. A major CLOTHES SWAP will be happenin’ and you don’t want to miss it. More details can be found if you click this link.

Last year, we practically found Greyley’s whole school wardrobe at the swap. I also filled a bag full of great finds. At that time, my daughter and I weren’t close to the same size, so we might have to arm wrestle over some items this year. There are many styles and sizes to choose from~ it’s going to be a blast.

It’s also a fun way to get rid of all the clothes you can’t wear anymore and see them recycled in clever ways on your friends. Or just to know they’re going to a good home.

There is a $10 Suggested Donation and unclaimed clothing will go to Dress for Success Twin Cities. I hear there are even going to be AWESOME raffle prizes!!! Hope to see you there, my friends!

Posted in Fashion, Heartwarming Events, Sept 2011 | 6 Comments »