Stella & Dot: Why Yes, Yes I Am

So I am VERY excited to announce that I am officially (I've got my kit & everything) a Stylist for Stella & Dot. So what is it, why have my friends been getting a suddenly escalated amount of emails regarding this and why am I choosing to sell this.

Me Modeling the Pop Geo Pendant Necklace
&  Coral Cay Earrings (Short Option)

Coral Cay Earring (Long Option)

What is Stella & Dot?

"Stella and Dot, an Inc. 500 Fastest-Growing Company, is a San Francisco based social selling company that creates flexible entrepreneurial opportunities for women. Our boutique-style jewelry and accessories line is available exclusively through in-home Trunk Shows by Independent Stylists and online. Our one of a kind collections are designed by celebrated New York designers and featured in Gossip Girl, In Style andLucky Magazine as well as on the wrists and necklines of today's hottest celebrities. The Today Show, Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have praised Stella & Dot for our innovative social shopping concept which brings together the best of ecommerce, social media, personal service and passionate earning to create the ultimate home based business for today's modern woman."

Ara Modeling the Citrine Perforated Double Clutch

Inside View of Clutch 

Stella & Dot's Mission:

TO GIVE EVERY WOMAN THE MEANS TO STYLE HER OWN LIFE.

We get great joy out of designing irresistible jewelry. And yet, jewelry is just the tangible expression of something much greater we are creating. We have a vision of the world where STRONG WOMEN LIVE BOLD and joyful lives. They know what they want and they work for it. They inspire each other. Passion and joy are their best accessories.

The Wisdom Bracelet, Moxie Stretch Bracelet & Gilded Arrow Bangle

So What is MY Why?:

I have joined Stella & Dot really for the chance to get out, an excuse to dress up and an opportunity to meet an outstanding group of classy and motivated women. For me, making the money is just icing on the cake. Why not?! I can decide how much I want to put in and how much I want to get out of this experience. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to book trunk shows with and for all the ladies in my life. I hope that most of you will let me "style" you soon, not just so I can start strong in this new business of mine (although it would really help), but honestly for an excuse to catch up, possibly dress up (or even down) you let me know ;) , play with some sparkly gems & enjoy each other's company as just me (sans husbie/daughter). 

Ok & I want this GORGEOUS Sutton Necklace
That can be worn 5 Different Ways!

Or this Fanella statement necklace b/c: WOW

How Do You Order? or Host a Trunk Show?

By going to my website: http://www.stelladot.com/sites/Shireehouf

By emailing me: shireehouf@gmail.com

Or even by Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shiree.houf

P.S. I've posted a bunch of the statement/wow pieces, but there are a TON more demure and delicate pieces, jewelry for little girls, purses & tote bags & other beautiful gift-ables... so please take a look & consider hosting a trunk show with me :)

Settling In One Room at a Time: Living Room

So I just hosted a Stella & Dot trunk show this past Friday evening! Not only was it fantastically sparkly & fun, a great time with friends, a reason to get dressed up & a good start to my new business  (more to come in a future post... After I get my kit with all of my GORGEOUS baubles that I will be selling) but.... I CLEANED THE APARTMENT. Now in my life there are a few different "types" of clean:

1. The kind you do everyday: which is more like daily maintenance/"picking up". Dishes, putting things away & vacuuming. 
2. What you do when family & friends have called & are stopping by: Bathrooms, light dusting & mirror washing.
3. What I do when I'm having a party or my mother (a Nurse & OCD clean freak) may be coming over: EVERYTHING... All surfaces are cleared & dusted, the heavy furniture is moved for vacuuming, candles/scentsy/febreeze are employed, floors are mopped & BLEACH is a must....

This was a LEVEL 3 Cleaning Event. So I decided it was the perfect time to take pictures to post & add to my "Settling One Room at a Time" series. I hope you will enjoy my eclectic style.

Our Entry Way & Dining Room Areas

 

A Picture of Us on the Day We Got Engaged

Our Office Corner & Entertainment "Center"

Our Main Living Area (Usually this is Covered with Toys)

I am Quite Proud of my Arrangement of my Mamaw's Gold Mirrors

 

My Antique Buffet (Refinished & Gifted F/My Late Mamaw)

This Serves as Donnie's Mini Bar
His Humidor & My Collection of Pipes Also Take up Residence Here

Our Dining Area (& a Peak into our Kitchen... Future Post to Come)

How to Know if You are Addicted to Yoga Pants

1. You are a Mom
2. All/1 or more of your kids are under the age of 5
3. Due to #s 1 & 2 you are sleep deprived and under showered
4. You do NOT care how dirty/stained/ripped they may be... they are still a viable option
5. It is hard to part with them even just long enough to wash them (thus #3) 
6. While out looking at shoes you dismiss really cute ones b/c they "won't go with your yoga pants"
7. You choose which outings you will attend based on whether it will be acceptable to wear them
8. Nothing else seems to fit as comfortably
9. The one time a week you decide to wear normal shorts/that cute summer dress you are surprised at how you stick to chairs/plastic booths or are frustrated by the annoying texture marks on your thighs after sitting on couches/carpets.
10. You desperately want to buy a pair for each day of the week.
11. The only thing keeping you from wearing them 24/7 is the fact that you can't afford #10.

Me Barely Standing in a pair of Heels that I can't walk in...
I branched out to a pair of leggings for this pic... sigh

Let the Whole World Rejoice!: Donnie Got a Job!

THIS past Monday Donnie started his new job at Children's Hospital (as a nurse in one of their ambulatory clinics). He is still in orientation but 

WE ARE SOOOOO EXCITED, THRILLED, HAPPY & YAY!

He actually got a job at a nursing home earlier, but we delayed celebration in hopes for this position at Children's. He is so soooo pumped up! Of course this means lots and lots of awesome for us in terms of $, benefits and general future, but it is also the small things that make this worth celebrating... and for me:

HE GETS TO WEAR FUN SCRUB TOPS!!!

His Basic Blue. I'll be finding patterned fabric
to match his blue pants.

He actually suggested we go into JoAnn's to browse (specifically at fabrics that he approves being used to make scrub tops). He is so excited and I can't wait to whip one out for him (pics yet to come). However for now:

THANK YOU GOD (sincerely) FOR DONNIE'S JOB!!!

I am so proud and I just know that this is his perfect job. I am looking forward to a little stability, not having to depend on parentals/foodstamps and making a plan to slowly but surely knock out this debt.

THESE ARE DONNIE APPROVED CHOICES OF FABRICS :)

(you know in case someone wants to buy 3yards for his birthday)

Settling In One Room at a Time: Star Wars Bedroom for a Couple

Yes  I may be crazy but I REALLY wanted to do a Star Wars Bedroom. I remember first starting to get into the movies a little in high school, but then I married Donnie and well He has read the books... like almost all of them (he just purchased a few more to burn through with his Father's Day money) and he also has a very VERY large collection of toys (both old & new) that I think are super cool. So here is my version of a grown up Star Wars room... (minus the light sabers above the bed... b/c well those were a bit pricey).

I chose to remove the doors off of the closet for easier access. 

Why Yes that IS the Millenium Falcon 

As you can most likely tell from my imperfect job,
 I hand painted the script above the bed.

I'm hoping to yard sale a cheap but decent love seat
for the empty space in the corner :)

I built a shelf for the corner to sit the TV on. so I could
display more treasures on the dressers.

This is one of my favorite pairings

I found these cute little lamps at a yardsale... they originally had
brass between the green parts with grey marble bases but I spray painted them.

Hope you enjoyed this little bragging session. I'm getting more and more excited as rooms get "finished".

Hair: Age of Acquiring New Styles

I am fighting REAL hard not to give up on myself and what I look like. I've never been able to keep pretty manicures (sewing does not let me), while I enjoy massages I'm a pansy (even the slightest touch to the lower back sends me through the roof) and I really can't afford much else that requires regular upkeep... but hair... I LOVE having my hair done.

My Mama spoiled me in college and would let me splurge 2-3x/year getting my hair cut & colored. For the past few years though I've really REALLY  been trying to go without... I've cut my hair, I've let friends cut my hair, I even did a box dye (gasp!) and it all pretty much resulted in my natural hair growing out and me getting it trimmed once & awhile (which still makes me feel like a million bucks). This WAS the most affordable... but then I had a baby... and became desperate for change.

Natural & Long

Step One:

 Donate all my long natural locks & get cute short hair cut (also known as the mom cut)... now there is nothing wrong with the mom cut except that it is totally the mom cut... its easier, takes less time and doesn't get pulled as often by grabby hands HOWEVER it is expected, it feels boring and it is one step closer to turning into your mother (not a bad thing.. just a fact). This inevitably grows out to that awkward middle stage...

Donation Cut

THAT Middle Awkward Stage

Step Two: 

Mom paid for the real deal... professional cut & color. I feel alive! I feel pampered! I research images... and find the perfect two (one for cut & one for color)!!! and I finally get an edgy cut and color that feels like "me". Down side... I havn't had a professional regularly do my hair for years. The last one that I had built the sacred relationship moved! The opposite direction that I moved! Soooo the girl did an awesome cut, however was a little too timid with the color. I was looking for POW and I got a WOH... Woh... wah. It also washed out pretty quick...

Yay Cut but Where's my Color?

Step Three:

 A few months later a very dear DEAR friend comes into town and spoils you with "I'll pay for them to dye your hair"... I'm back in the game! IT IS ON!!! I GO EXTREME! Now I am very VERY blonde... I like it a lot... but not because it is blonde... but because it can now be any color under the sun (via temporary natural dyes). Yep I am reverting to all of my middle school/high school desires to dye my hair all sorts of colors and I love it. I mean: I don't have a full time "professional" job and I feel young and adventurous. Silly but this is very freeing and also a tad bit exciting :)

BAM BLONDE

What Next?