Jewelry, bloggers & WINE

For those of you who DON'T know me on a 'personal' level (& by 'personal' I mean you haven't met me face to face...lets be honest, ya'll 'know' me pretty well...) I have decided to retire from the jewelry business. 

At the end of last year, I wanted to slow down a bit (which I told ya'll) & then I ended up enjoying the slowing.  (Which I can't remember if I told you?!)  So...I was contemplating not renewing with Premier this month when my renewal is up.  But I struggled with it too.  I didn't want to feel like a 'quitter'... I was worried about the gals that had joined Premier under me... I was also going to miss being involved with such  a great company.  Premier truly is awesome & they ALWAYS went above & beyond where the jewelers are concerned.  

Fast forward to the beginning of May & I find out I'm allergic to all kinds of different metals.  Perhaps you've heard me mention it?  Perhaps.  And that really was the final piece to the puzzle that made my decision very easy.  I'm allergic to jewelry...I can't very well wear it like Mr. T. & sell it like I was doing before.  It may sound silly, but I also feel like I was given a good 'out' from Premier.  Instead of having to explain to people why I wanted to get out & all the circumstances surrounding my decision, I could simply say, "I'm allergic" & there are no questions.  

They say God works in mysterious ways.  Yea, he's mysterious AND hilarious.  

Thank for THAT, God...

I am in the process of selling most my samples.  I will be keeping a few of my favorite pieces, but can only wear them on special occasions.  No more layering bracelets just because.  Tear.  When I DO choose to anoint an occasion 'special' enough to wear jewelry, I will have to suffer.  I will get itchy & break out in a painful rash.  I told the dermatologist that it was "unreasonable to think I was never going to wear jewelry again."  She said she will continue to give me a script for a magic cream so when I wanna be like a normal freakin' girl have a flare-up it will help the pain & clear the rash quicker.  

Alicia was kind enough to let me bring my samples to her house last week so the gals I know 'in town' could look through them.  One thing led to another & it turned into a blogger date of sorts.  There was also wine.  A lot of wine.... Alicia was a tyrant sweet hostess to make sure our glasses never went empty.  

(See the bottles already emptied?!)

Miss Nora was also there...I mean, jewelry IS her thing, ya know?!  She showed us some of her new gymnastic moves.  (I found it incredibly funny how Alicia would do it beside her.  She cracks me up!)

Gretchen was double fisting at one point.  Red or white?  That is the question.  (I'm a white kinda gal...) 

It amazes me how much 'stuff' we can talk about when we're all together.  I mean, we all read each others blogs so we know practically everything that goes on in the others life.  It's fun for me to make ask them to elaborate on things that maybe they just 'can't' say on the blog...  Like Gretchen's job is WAY more fun then she lets on.  I wouldn't mind being surrounded by children all day working in a school office to see the things she sees!  We talked about how 'old' we're getting... & we're all only in our 30's!  We talked about how the "young 'uns" don't use Facebook because it's not as cool as Twitter... & how we all just LOVE Facebook... uhm yea...

We forgot to take a group shot before Denise left!  Boo!  Thanks to Alicia for having us & to everyone who came to look through the jewelry... & drink!