Since writing my first blog post several months back, a million blog topics have passed through my mind and I found myself wishing there was some magical way of hooking up my keyboard to my brain so I could just think things but didn’t have to actually type and poof! A fab blog post would appear…No such luck and it is probably a good thing, could you imagine how much more pressure we would put on ourselves to do even more stuff if computer mind reading were possible and yes I realize it is probably already being done but my point is, it’s not mainstream yet, thank-goodness!
Where to begin…hmm. A quick rundown on the busy life of a stay at home Jewelry/Collar Designing Mom to 4 skin (one newly acquired through marriage 
) kids and 3 fur (one newly acquired through a kijii ad ) kids.
- Our beautiful unplanned, hectic but blissful Wedding in Jan was followed by an even more beautiful, restful, romantic, idyllic Honeymoon Vaca in the Riviera Maya Mexico..Boy, I tell ya, whenever life gets crazy busy, I close my eyes for a moment and am right back on the beach in my beautiful shaded cabana with gauzy curtains blowing hypnotically in wind and the sound of the ocean lulling me into a mid day dreamy state. My book, hat, sunglasses, towel, sunscreen, cool drink and bikini are the only items on my to do list… I am calm, peaceful and intensely happy
- Returning from Paradise early Feb brought us back to reality in a flash and back to work albeit our wonderful reality. I really do love my life, I love being married to a man I adore, I love that we both have incredibly well adjusted overall great kids and that our blended family somehow works. I feel blessed that I have created not one but two careers by following what I passionately love and by not limiting my abilities. I love that I get up every morning stare out at the most gorgeous river view and go to work in my jammies. But the reality that comes with being self employed is that YOU (nobody else) have to make things happen, and is my norm, I did, big time, lol….Off to Sandy Paws we went!
- Early March we attended our first show of the year and our first time ever at Sandy Paws Greyhound Gathering held at Jekyll Island Resort in Georgia. Feb became a blur as I holed up in my studio creating fabulous (or at least what I thought were FAB Charly Blair Jewelry creations) I have always wanted to attend the Sandy Paws Gathering but as luck would have it, the relatively small event had a limit on the number of collar vendors they would allow so Around the Hounds had to stay home, but the cool thing is Charly Blair did get the invite and what an amazing time we had!! We were over the top thrilled with the overwhelming response to Charly Blair Designs and I am already looking forward to next year as this event is bound to become one of our favorites…Gorgeous location, incredible event organization (everything was smooth as silk) http://www.sandypaws.org/ We met the coolest people, including my new best friends from the www.followthathound.com group. To anybody considering adopting a retired Racing Greyhound this wonderful program was developed and is directed by my web friend (now finally met in person) Cathie Lambert and in essence allows you to pre-adopt a racing greyhound puppy and then you can follows it’s career from racing through to retirement…I know where our next greyhound is coming from
- No rest for the wicked, no sooner than we unpacked from Sandy Paws that I began preparing for my next show or more like a showing or display at a retail location. I still don’t know how to describe this type of Jewelry I have ventured into…My non dog jewelry? My non doggie style jewels? My jewelry line not just for dog owners? My jewelry line outside the dog world? Uh, umm, well i guess if you didn’t know me from the dog/greyhound world I guess it is ok to just call it Charly Blair Designs, which is what I did….By the end of March we had set up our retail display in Paul Haddad’s gorgeous downtown location Hair Salon http://www.artistic-hair-tanning.com/and a new chapter has begun…..We have lots of exciting events and specials planned mostly for our local market unless of course you feel the urge to come visit Canada’s Capital Region, they you are more than welcome to attend/visit tee hee. Our first big event will be an Open House Red Carpet affair at the Salon, look for dates TBA.
- No rest yet. Almost from the moment I finished setting up shop at Artistic Hair I had to immerse myself in preparation for our 2nd biggest show of the year and our 8th annual trip to Greyhounds in Gettysburg Event http://www.greyhoundsingettysburg.com/ at the end of April. This has always been on of my favorite events, a veritable feast for the hound loving eyes as hundreds of retired racing greyhounds and their owners make their way to this small historical town to celebrate the breed and participate in the events and SHOP!! Did I mention the the GIG event is held under tents each year in the parking lot of a fabu OUTLET MALL, how much better can it get? We are so thankful for all our loyal and returning collar customers who have supported our efforts all these years and to our new Charly Blair Designs Customers who raved over their purchases (making my day times 10) and offered such encouragement with their oooohs and awwwws all of whom helped make this year’s event our most successful ever!…Robin and I thank-you wholeheartedly
- Well that brings me to now and what’s next? WHEWWWW! As I type I am thinking that a little down time would be just marvaaaaalous. Time do some house work and laundry (ha ha, just kidding) maybe catch up in the yard (hmmm, that sounds a little like work) Get the pool ready for Summer (Oh ROBIN) or just hang with the family and get to know our new little IGGY guy Sid (did I mention Sid yet?)….That’s another blog but here’s a pic of Sid, fitting right in a feeling at home with Chester and Isabelle
