................and a Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I hope your holidays have been fabulous so far!  What are your plans for new Year's Eve?  Do you go out or stay home?  Spend it with kids or not?

We usually opt to stay in on New Year's Eve.  Sure, I fantasize about dressing up in some fancy outfit and heading for San Francisco for a wonderful (expensive) dinner in a place with a fantastic view of the city's festivities.  Then a big party with dancing and a countdown.....  but instead I usually spend it at home with the hubs, a cozy fire and a bottle of champagne, snacks for the kids, playing board games and watching New Year's Rockin' Eve on the tube.  At midnight they go outside with those confetti poppers and yell "Happy New Year!" with the neighbors.   And it's perfect. 

This year, I have an adult beverage planned that is like a mimosa, but instead of orange juice you use orange or tangerine sorbet.  Yum!

Here is the link to Pinterest.

And for the kids, cookies and milk.

Another Pinterest idea.

Like I could come up with milk & cookies on my own!  haha

We will play board games like Scattergories and Pictionary, celebrate at home, and be in bed by 12:03.  If that's not a fancy-pants way to ring in the New Year then I don't know what is!

I know everyone is pretty shopped out, but I do want to mention our South Hill Designs  End-Of-Year Sale.  There are some fabulous deals there!  The Greek letters and pink lockets are being retired, so if you have any interest in those items, this would be your last chance.  Sale runs through Jan. 5, 2015.  And if you opt to email me your order rather than order from the site directly, I will give you an additional 10% OFF, making these items 40% off or better!

Browse my website and then email your order to my1charmedlife@gmail.com by Jan. 4, 2015 for the additional discount.

Let me know if you try those mimosas!  And hey, any resolutions this year?  I am still working on mine.

Happy New Year!

The Goose Is Getting Fat...

Here we are!  Just roughly two weeks to go.  How is your holiday season going?

Around here it's so far, so good.  We have had a busy month so far!  We put our tree up right after Thanksgiving.  Do you have a real or artificial tree?  I still love real, but we have had a fake one for several years now and I have to say-- it's nice to just bring it in from the garage, no needles falling everywhere, plug it in and there ya go.  But I do miss the fresh smell of a real tree.  

It was also my birthday last week.  Pretty uneventful, but there was cake.  My 9 year-old mused, "It seems like a birthday is just another day when you are a grown-up."  Yep.  That sums it up pretty well.

In CA we have had some much-needed rain.  It is seriously strange to have it pour and pour for a couple of days.  You forget what a rainy day is during a drought!  Well, yay, the grass is green again!  

I was so lazy today.  I mean L-A-Z-Y.  

Like never-got-out-of-my-sweats lazy.

Didn't-brush-my-hair lazy.

Wore-my-socks-all-day lazy.

I didn't even go to the grocery store.  

I made my husband go.

He called me like fifteen times to ask questions about the list.

He does that every time I send him to the store.

Cracks me up-- don't you pay attention to the kind of milk we drink?

I love him.

He spared me a trip to the grocery store in December.

I stayed home instead and organized my jewelry and did some decorating. 

Blissful.

I also did some online Christmas shopping.  I am so thankful we have that option these days, aren't you?  I can't wait for everything to arrive so I can wrap it all up!  I feel so relieved to have some of our kids' gifts taken care of.  

You can get some Online Shopping done, too, if lockets are on your list.  I'd love to help you design something special for someone special.  I am gifting lockets to several people.  There is nothing I love more than choosing just the right one.

The amazing new ring would make a GREAT gift for someone who likes to make a statement with their jewelry!  It's gorgeous.

It's the size of a medium locket- you can put charms, a beautiful screen,

whatever you want inside.

We even have gifts for men!  

Check out these and the Trinity bracelets!  They are amazing!

Now to decide what kind of cookies to make this year!

Any ideas?

Have a Charmed Day!

December Giveaway!

December. Is. Here.

I'm glad.  Can we talk about Christmas now?  It's funny how so many people don't want to think about Christmas until Thanksgiving has passed.  But that only leaves less than a month!  Personally, I love this season of giving and want it to last as long as possible.  But maybe that's just me.  :)

What do you love most about December?

I guess one reason I love this month so much is that I'm a Kindergarten teacher.  I get to spend my days with little kids who are just amazed by everything this month brings!  Snowmen, Gingerbread cookies, Santa beards made out of cotton balls.... and I am feeling really crafty these days so they are going to LOVE the next few weeks!

To celebrate December with you I am doing an awesome Giveaway on my Facebook Page!

Check the pinned post for instructions on how to enter to win this gorgeous mini silver locket and heart charm!  This locket would be a beautiful gift for someone you love-- or of course you can keep it for yourself!  

Have a Charmed Day!

Make A Wish

Did you know?

South Hill Designs has a partnership with the Make A Wish Foundation.  All proceeds from your purchase of these products are given directly to the charity.

So by purchasing these products, your gift is loved two-fold.

And then some.

Isn't life beautiful?

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Fabulous Friday is here!  Get some great deals today while shopping in your jammies!  Sale is on only for 11/28/14, but of course you can order these products anytime for smart and heartfelt gift-giving.  Order here:  My Charmed Fab Friday  My favorites?  The charm packs (so beyond cute with that snowflake screen) and the gorgeous beaded wraps!

Ho! Ho! Ho!  

The holiday season is upon us!  With a late Thanksgiving this year, we are left with only 4 weeks to prepare!  Yikes!  I told my hubby not to make any plans this weekend-- we are decorating!  Needless to say, he is super annoyed  excited.

Have you started your holiday shopping yet?  I am here to confess I have not bought a single gift.  I have started my list, but it feels like an overwhelming task right now!  I am so thankful for online shopping because the mall would be nothing but an overwhelming mess for me.  Of course, the special women in my life are getting beautiful South Hill Jewelry!

Here are a few ideas-- just know that you can put WHATEVER YOU WANT in your lockets.  Modify these ideas to fit your gift-giving needs!

Lockets even make great gifts for the little girls on your list!  Choose a mini locket and one or two special charms-- she'll love it!  

If she loves the movie "Frozen"-- she will never let this locket go!

For a special mom or grandma-- give her a locket bracelet with the kids' birthstones!  This one is sure to evoke tears of happiness!

Another beautiful locket for that special mom or grandma-- a family tree screen with the family birthstones.  A gift that is sure to be treasured for years to come.

A Monogram Screen is a beautiful way to personalize a locket.

Not sure what she'd like?  Do something simple like this gorgeous Crystal Embellishment inside the ever-popular Silver Locket with Swarovski Crystals.

The possibilities are endless!  I am here to help!  

Contact me anytime for assistance with your locket purchase or gift-giving suggestions.

Have a Charmed Day!

"Fall" in Love with South Hill

Hooray!  Fall is here!

Leaves and cider and pumpkins, oh my!

I LOVE this season most of all!  

Now, where I live it isn't exactly cooling off

just yet...

In fact we are having something of a heat wave!

But I BELIEVE.  

haha

At South Hill Designs we are welcoming 

the new season with some

super fun charms for Halloween!

There is even a pre-designed Halloween locket priced at 30% off

on my website!  You just cannot beat this

Spooktacular deal!  

We also have some GORGEOUS Autumn charms

that will blow you away!  They look absolutely amazing in the 

Gold Diamond locket or paired with your monogram in the 

large gold.  My current favorite chain to wear is the Tamara.

Stunning!

What is YOUR favorite part of Fall?

Conference Bound!

How is your Summer going?  It is in full-swing here!  Kids are off, looking for things to do every day.  Our backyard has the tell-tale signs of pool parties and barbecues.  It has been a lovely and relaxing Summer so far and I just hope it lasts forever  doesn't fly by too quickly!  To kick off the Summer, I did a super fun event with a couple of the girls on my team.  We had such a great time sharing the SHD love with so many people!

This weekend I will be in Arizona at the 2nd South Hill Designs USA Conference!  I am so excited, I can hardly contain myself!  It promises to be an incredibly inspiring experience and, of course, tons of fun with my SHD family!  One of the most exciting parts of Conference is the release of new product-- I can't wait to share that with you!!!

In anticipation of Conference, SHD has released a few new products already, just to get us all ready for the excitement to come!  Have you seen the  beautiful new wrap colors and the stunning GRAPHITE locket bracelet?  LOVE them all!!!

These are available to order now on my website.

We also have an amazing special called the "Summer Magic Collection."  It consists of all the charms you see here, plus the white flower screen AND the "Inspire" coin for just $40.20 US!  

You can order it here under the pre-design category.

There are so many possible combinations with this collection!  Here is an example of 5 different lockets I made with ONE "Summer Magic" set!

Think of all the possible combos with these beautiful charms!  

AND that white screen isn't even available for purchase on its own!!!

I hope your Summer is full of memory-making and happy times in the sunshine!

Looking forward to sharing exciting news and new products with you very soon!

Until then-- Stay Charmed!

Summer Is Calling

Has Summer vacation officially begun where you live?  We have 18 more days of school and then......

Whooopppeeee!!!!

I hope my kids can handle it.

You know.

The boredom.  haha

No, but seriously.

How many days in until they start

saying they're bored?  

Maybe I should start a pool......

Speaking of pools--

Poolside at our Tahoe condo.....

Playing with the cousins in our pool at home.

One of my favorite pics on the lake last summer.

South Lake Tahoe

I can't wait to start making Summer memories!!!

And I super can't wait for the South Hill Designs National Conference in July!!!!!!

Especially so I can come back and share all of our Amazing NEW products with you!

So, how do you wear Summer in your locket?

Here are a few ideas:

Pacific opal accents in the large silver with crystals look

like the clear blue water of the Caribbean.

Use a locket extender to add a mini to your large locket.

I love the use of the green crystals in this one.  

And that turtle is one of my favorite charms!

Create a beach scene in your locket!  I can even affix

your charms so they will stay in place if you want!

Browse my WEBSITE

or email me at my1charmedlife@gmail.com

for more information!

ROCK ON!!!

LOL

Summer is calling!!!

Let's Hear It For Teachers!

Teacher Appreciation week is coming up

May 5-9.

Who is your most special teacher?

What makes them special?

I remember almost every teacher I had.  

I loved my teachers.

As long as I can remember I wanted to be a teacher

because of what they did for me,

 how they made me feel, 

how they instilled a love of learning in me...

I am a teacher.

And it is one of my life's greatest blessings.

I teach Kindergarten.

Yes, they're cute.

But that has little to do with why I do it.

I love to watch the little light bulbs go on.

When they "get" it.

Especially when they learn to read and they have that *first* realization

that they just READ something.

Gives me goosebumps every time.

So I get lots of artwork made especially for me.

And lots of freshly-picked dandelions.

And of course, the oddly-shaped rock here and there.

And tons of hugs.

Oh, and they are just the best audience--

they laugh at every silly joke.  

Totally boosts my ego.

So being a teacher really gives me an even deeper appreciation, I think,

for those who teach my children.

For I know my own kids are not perfect.

I know.

Gasp!

And I know how exhausted those teachers feel at the end of the day.

And yet they still go home

and look things up

to share with my kids

because they asked a certain question that day.

And buy caterpillars

so my kids can watch them

change into butterflies.

And lug in their breadmakers

and bread mix

and jam

so the kids can make bread

like the Little Red Hen.

And search the Dollar Spot

at Target

to fill up the treasure box.

And every morning

open the door

with a smile

and a bright "Good Morning!"

while accepting the gifts of drawings

and dandelions

and rocks

as if they were the first

she ever received.

SO

If you would like to give your child's teacher 

a gift

of Appreciation

I have just the thing!

I'd LOVE to help you with this one!  

And I will give you free shipping 

in the U.S. with any order

you send to my email through May 5, 2014.  :)

Just use the subject line "Let's Hear It For Teachers!"

send to: my1charmedlife@gmail.com

Here are a few ideas, but you can create whatever you like:

It's the least I can do.

Because I appreciate YOU!!!

Have a Charming Day!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

And the winner of this lovely silver locket and South Hill Flower screen is...............

Drum roll please.........................................

Michaela!  She was comment #4. 

Congratulations, Michaela!

Thank you to everyone who entered!  

I'm surprised more people didn't!  Maybe they didn't believe me.

Free.

Locket.

A

FREE

LOCKET!!!!!

Hmmmmmmmmmm..........

Michaela, please email me at kristen95020@gmail.com with your mailing info!  :)

Meanwhile, I am scrambling trying to get ready for Easter!  

I know it's a late one, but it sure doesn't feel like it.  

I am keeping it super simple this year.  A few goodies and a gift card

for my kiddos.  :)

And then, around the corner is Mother's Day!  

Have you thought about it yet?

Here are a few locket ideas for Mom!

If you order via my email address (above) by May1, 2014, and mention

my blog, I will give you 10% off your order.  :)

10% off all orders emailed to me at kristen95020@gmail.com through May 1, 2014.

Have a charming day!