Today, I am linking up with Kelly's Korner blog to tell you about my business selling jewelry for Stella and Dot!  I started this fabulous new adventure in February as a way to earn some extra cash, but it has turned into so much more than that.  I love my full-time job as a 3rd grade teacher (hopefully turned assistant principal someday soon), but this is a completely different avenue for me.  Stella and Dot is a home-based business, where you sell jewelry mostly out of trunk shows in people's homes.  I never in a million years thought I would enjoy sales, but I really do.  I am having a blast working for Stella and Dot!

Here are my top 10 reasons I love Stella and Dot:

1. The jewelry is ADORABLE!  I love it all and am enjoying wearing my samples everyday.  My favorites are shown throughout this post.

Zahara Bib Necklace $248

2. It wasn't expensive to buy in (only $199) and I earned that back in my first show!  Right now, they are having an amazing deal for sign-up, and you get over $500 worth of jewelry for samples with your $199 starter kit.

Capri Chandelier Earrings $49

3. I have earned over $2,000 in free jewelry so far and more to come!  I own about 70 items now and I reinvested some of my earnings into that, but so much of it has been free through their amazing jumpstart program and hostess rewards from my first trunk show.

Harmony Band Rings $69

4. I get to help other people earn free jewelry through hosting trunk shows!  The average trunk show hostess earns $250 in free jewelry of their choice plus 4 items at 50% off.

Interlock Cross Necklace $59

5. The training is great - there are a plethora of videos and things to read.  I am kept busy watching videos every night, but I love doing it and it makes me excited to sell.

Campari Necklace $128

6. I get to be around fun people every day and I have made some good friends through this.

Serenity Stone Drops $49

 

7. I feel more confident and successful - I have built a team of 4 people and I love leading and encouraging them.  I am also so inspired to work out and eat healthy lately.  I have lost 5 pounds this week alone on the South Beach diet and I think it has to do with me feeling more confident.

Serenity Stone Necklace $198

8. You get to make other women feel good about themselves by giving them beautiful jewelry to make their outfits complete.  This jewelry gets tons of compliments!

Stella and Dot is in a ton of magazines and worn by celebrities!

9. Tons of celebrities wear the brand and it is featured in magazines all the time.  I opened my US Weekly yesterday to find Olivia Munn wearing the Campari necklace to the US Hot Hollywood party!

Renegade cluster bracelet $59

10. My husband LOVES this!  He enjoys talking with me about it, giving me sales advice, and seeing me succeed.  He was definitely skeptical at first, but supportive and we thought it was worth a shot.  Now, he is so interested in it and is a huge Stella and Dot fan himself!  It is taking us on a trip to San Fran in July!

Let me know if you are ever interested in ordering, hostessing a trunk show, or becoming a stylist!  I promise it is so fun, and so worth it!  beckystevens1126@gmail.com

Wedding Details - Part 1

Our wedding was absolutely everything I hoped it would be, and Aaron would say the same.  I know everyone says that, but I really REALLY loved our wedding.  There were not super original details, and though it was perfect and beautiful, you probably won't be seeing it featured in a wedding magazine or Style Me Pretty, but I envisioned a classic, winter wedding and that is just what we got.  Throughout the whole process, I tried really hard not to stress about everything, and I think I did a pretty good job of that.  Since we got engaged in April, I had the summer to do a lot of the big stuff which was SO nice.  Aaron was amazing throughout the whole process too - never let me get overstressed at all.  But probably the part that made wedding planning the easiest was my mom.  She is just the most ideal mom to work with on planning a wedding.  She let me make all my own decisions, gave input when I really needed her to, and stayed so calm and unstressed the entire time.  She is just the most supportive mom ever, and she and my dad threw us the best party of our lives and we are forever thankful for that.

I wanted to write some blog entries on my wedding details and vendors, mostly so I could remember them, but also for anyone who is planning a wedding in Dallas.  I was so happy with every single vendor and would recommend any of them.  I'll be doing this sporadically...just as I have time and can't think of anything else to write about. I got the idea from my friend Abby and I loved reading about her wedding, so I thought I would do this myself.  

I'm going to start with my photographer - Carter Rose from F8 studio.  He is a good friend of my friend Jenn Wilson and I cannot tell you how happy I am that she recommended him.  When my mom and I went to meet him at his studio in Addison, we both just knew immediately that he had to be our photographer.  He is so genuinely nice, and cares deeply about taking good pictures.  You can just tell how passionate he is about it when you meet him.  He was always there with us during the wedding, but we didn't even notice - he likes to capture the moment and people's true emotions in the pictures and he did!  We absolutely love our engagement and wedding pictures and would recommend Carter to anyone!  Here are some of my favorite pics...

Easter Weekend 2012

Aaron and I had a wonderful Easter weekend - our first as a married couple!  I am lucky enough to have a 4-day weekend, and we packed it full!  Friday, we got up early and went to tailgate for Opening Day of the Rangers.  It was a blast and I was literally giddy with excitement that baseball season is back!  We were exhausted, but that night we also had tickets to the Mavs game, so we rallied and headed to the game.  It was fun until they lost in overtime, but I did get to see/stare at Khloe the whole time, so I was fine.  Saturday, we went to the Keller's annual Crawfish boil.  This year was the 80th anniversary party and it did not disappoint.  We ate well on Saturday!  Sunday morning, we went to church and to eat lunch with my side of our family, and then got to go to the Ranger game last night.  It was such a fun weekend!  I am absolutely exhausted today, but so thankful to have time to clean, get organized for this week, and go see my friend Gretchen's new baby Ryan this afternoon.  We also found out this week that Aaron's sister is having a little girl in August!  Now we get a nephew AND a niece this summer!  Life is good!

 Aaron and I at the 80th annual Crawfish boil.

 Mal and I at Crawfish - sporting our Stella and Dot!

 Maggie sleeping with her ALCS championship trophy replica - as usual! We got them at the game.

My sweet family watching the Rangers beat the White Sox and take the first series of the season!