So I'm thinking of a new feature...

...and it needs a name.

Seriously, I'm drawing a complete blank here.

What will the theme be?  Well, I'm thinking about combining several items together in each post that combine to make a complete outfit, or look great together as home decor, or __________ (you fill in the blank).    I'm wanting to showcase things that don't cost a fortune, as well as feature items from handmade artists when I can.  There's no reason we can't all be Belles on a Budget!

Here's an example of what I'm thinking:

This shirt (only $11.87)...

...with these pants (only $34.99)...

...and these earrings (only $8.00).

You would also be super cute with some red nail polish like this (only $9.00)...

...or some yellow (which I think is way fun and only $4.99...and would be stepping out of my comfort zone, personally).  *wink*

So, that's what I'm wanting to do once in awhile.  Show you some cute finds that I've found that don't cost a fortune, and have a little fun at the same time.  :o)

By no means am I a fashion expert...let's just get that straight before we go one more step.  I'm just look for things that naturally draw my eye, and fit the budget them.

Whad'ya think?  Feedback very much appreciated, as well as suggestions for a name for this thing!!

Yes, I'm here...

...still alive and kicking.  :o)

But where have I been since September...2012?!  (Seriously, I'm wondering why I even have a blog.)

Well, first off, I made the brilliant decision to go back to school.  Thank heavens, it's only part-time.  My schedule is now something like this:

Get up.
Go to work.
Go to school after work (Mondays and Tuesdays).
Come home.
Study.
Attempt to promote my Etsy store.
Make it to bed around midnight.
...and church on Sundays.

Y'all...I'm tuckered out!  No wonder the blog has fallen by the wayside!  But I need to get it back up to speed, or even just into first gear (since this is only the fourth post!).

And after all that rambling, yes, I do have something to share with you today.  :o)

My dear friend Sandra Byrd has just released a brand new book, Roses Have Thorns, based on Queen Elizabeth I.  To my utter chagrin, I have not been able to crack the spine yet.  In my defense, I'm waiting for a good long stretch of uninterrupted time (ahem...when the semester ends) to enjoy it fully.  :o)  But thanks to her brilliant idea, I was able to help her with a lovely item from my shop to go along with her book/blog tour.  You can check out a few more pics and options here, and you can also get some great details about an AWESOME giveaway here hosted by Sandra!

I can't wait to get back in the swing of things with blogging, and I hope to shift more of my focus on that here on this blog.  I've blogged at Southern Sassy Things now for 5 years as of last month, and even with the business of life, I miss it quite a lot.  *sniff*

I have a couple of ideas up my sleeve that I hope to be implementing soon, so stay tuned for that.  I promise not to let you down...writing this post alone will hold me to it.  *wink*

In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you in the comments down below!  See you soon!

New to the Store ~ Bookmarks!

So, if you're a reader like me, there's one thing you can never go without...a bookmark.  (This assumes that you, of course, can't go without having an actual book, too.)  *wink*

So, idea in mind, I set out to create some cute bookmarks to help you add a little style to your latest read.  Whad'ya think?  :o)

Pink and Purple Dangling Bookmark (with Piece de Resistance by Sandra Byrd as a great backdrop) - $6.00

White, Pink, and Gray Dangling Bookmark (with The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz providing the finishing touches here) - $5.50

I'm thinking about making some other variations in the future, but would like to see how these do first.  You can view other views of each bookmark by clicking each link.  

Would love to hear (um...."read") your thoughts, if you feel up to sharing them.  Thanks in advance!

My First Review!!

I am tickled pink to be the recipient of a great product review today thanks to fellow blogger, Katie McCurdy!  I "met" Katie some time ago, thanks to our shared love of great Christian fiction books, and was thrilled when she offered to do a review of my jewelry to help me get my name and shop out there a little more.  :o)  Normally, I've been on the giving end of reviews, and now I can say I know how great it feels to be on the receiving end...especially when it's a great review.  *wink*

Not only is she doing a review, she's hosting a giveaway, too!  So, be sure to visit her blog, Legacy of a Writer, and find out all the cool ways you can enter to win!

Thanks a million, Katie!

How I Got Started...

It all started with a title of "Suzy Homemaker"...

In 2006, I was working at a great dental office, and in my spare time, I was busy doing some sort of craft. If it was portable, I would occasionally bring it to work with me to tinker with on my lunch breaks. This craft nature eventually led to me getting the title of "Suzy Homemaker."

The week of Valentine's Day comes along, and I think of it as just a normal work week. All of a sudden someone flippantly says, "Christy, make us something fun for Valentine's Day." Well, at first I thought about making some cute lapel pins for everyone to pin on their scrub tops. With this mission in mind, I head to Hobby Lobby to see what I can find.

In order to find those little pin backs, I had to make a stop in the jewelry section. Needless to say, the pins were history after I got a good look at rows and rows of beads. I grabbed a couple of packages of earrings, some cute red and pink beads, and then took myself home to see what I could do!

The rest is history! The co-workers loved their earrings, I started getting orders to make jewelry, and then, started participating in occasional shows and festivals. It wasn't until 2012 that I decided to take this show to the web, and open an Etsy store. What an adventure I've had!