Simply Mad About...Family & Celebrations!

Hello!  It has been a while, hasn't it?  Well, I have recently gotten back from a trip to see mine and Trey's family in the US.  I spent three happy weeks with them, celebrating birthdays, spending quality time with my parents and Trey's and showcasing the latest Simply Mad Jewelry designs.

I told you Fla. was relaxing!

After two relaxing days in Florida, I flew to Puerto Rico to see my crazy, loud and awesome family.  The main reason I chose these dates to visit, was to surprise my dad for his 70th birthday and surprise him I did!  I also surprised my mom.  My dad and my sister share the same birthday so I got to celebrate hers as well.  The day after my arrival, my brother and his family also arrive as a surprise and over the weekend we treated my dad to yet another surprise - a "sailor themed" birthday party with friends, family and lots of dancing music so the "dancing king" (i.e. my dad) indulge and show off his dance moves.

dad and my sister blowing b-day candles with mom

the "dancing king" and I

Going to Puerto Rico is hectic and busy...there is always something to do; we are always going to or coming from somewhere.  But it is always good...the goings and comings are usually to one of my sisters' house to sit around the dining table sharing stories, catching up, cracking jokes and drinking wine.  And if we are not going to one of my sisters' house then we are going to a local restaurant for a "much-missed-and-deliciously-heavy-meal-of-rice, beans and fried plantains".  It doesn't matter where we go to or where we come from, I cherish these moments and hold them dear to my heart.

After the my dad's birthday party, it was time to get to work.  I had a week to prepare for Simply Mad's 4th Annual Bazaar in Puerto Rico.  It is always a great opportunity to catch up with friends and to meet new ones and this particular year the event got covered by the lifestyle section of the major local newspaper - El Nuevo Dia.  I was a happy camper and the Bazaar was total success!

at the Bazaar

sparkly necklaces

choices!

After the Bazaar...I had two full days to spend with my parents who have recently retired.  It was, to my delight, a full 48 hours of uninterrupted, quality time with them.

On my way back to Tokyo, it was time to pay Trey's parents a second visit...especially his dad whose birthday was the day after I arrived.  Lucky me!  I get to spend birthdays with both our dads!!!  Those two extra days in Florida were relaxing, winding me down and getting me ready for the upcoming days which were filled with airports, hotels and a very loooonggg flight back home.

Birthday dinner for Jay in Fla.

birthday hug!

From Florida I flew to Boston on the same day the first "Boston Marathon Bomber" was killed...ay ay ay!  I made my flight with some fear but a lot of excitement because I was meeting my nephew Eric Andres who was scheduled to tour one of the colleges in town.  The day we arrived, we were holed up in the hotel room following the request from the police to stay indoors.  It looked safe outside but every store and business was closed.  It gave us a chance to nap, talk and bond over room service lunch complete with wine and beer - why not?  We had a nice dinner together and via You Tube he introduced me to Hannibal, a very funny comedian I had never heard of.  By the end of the night, the second suspect had been arrested and we were FREE and psyched to see a little bit of Boston the following morning.  And so we did, we got up early and strolled around downtown Boston - what a great city.  Beautiful brick architecture and small shops lining Newbury Street.  What a treat it was for me to have that time with him, to get to know him better and to help him with college selection process.

Eric & I in Boston Common

I have been back in Tokyo now for a week.  Between jet lag, a very good book I am reading and a general feel of "I-am-completely-out-of-my-routine-and-I-don't-know-how-to-fall-back-into-it", it always takes me a while...but here I am...I AM BACK!!!

Have lots of things to share with you...new jewelry and an exciting promotion I did with Macho Spouse for Mother's Day!  

Simply Mad's Plan 2013

I hope you are settling in nicely into the new year.  Trey was on vacation last week so for me the new year kinda starts today.  Last week was spent relaxing, recharging and reflecting.

I love the sense of endless possibilities a new year brings and the cleansing power of leaving an old year behind.  This year I didn't make any official resolutions; I think any day is good to start over or make self -improvements, don't you think?  Plus my track record with new year's resolutions is less than stellar - hahaha!  How about you?  Did you make any resolutions for 2013?

borrowed this pict from Treat A Day 

There is something I am focusing my attention on this year though - my business.  Over the holidays I had my Simply Mad Jewelry shop critiqued by a pro - Jessika Hepburn from Oh My! Handmade Goodness.  The critique was kind (thank God and thank YOU Jessika) and full of great ideas and helpful suggestions.  Aside from the concrete support Jessika provided, the renew came with a much needed dose of encouragement and a new perspective about all that it takes to build and grow a small creative business.   So I start this week and this new year armed with tools and inspiration to take my jewelry business flying and flying high in 2013 and beyond!  You will see more of my travels reflected in my designs.  I have been "mind busy" picturing what the new pieces will look like, which of the places I have visited will I look to for inspiration and it is all really exciting. I have been revisiting some of my favorites spots through my pictures, reminiscing and reliving memorable moments Trey and I have shared while traveling.  While browsing around a flea market in Tokyo yesterday I found - what feels like a perfect inspiration piece for a Japan/Spring collection.  The colors are so cheery and the silk so soft and delicate - I am in love with it!!!  I can't wait to share the first pieces with you.

 Japanese silk found in a local free market in Tokyo

After two years of making and selling jewelry with moderate success, it is time to make and sell jewelry with a LOT of success.  This is the year when jewelry making will go from hobby to healthy obsession and then to absolute success.  And I will take you along with me in my journey...I need someone to cheerlead me along the way.

Aside from a new designing process and sources of inspiration, Simply Mad Jewelry has a new logo from Moxie Pear.  Up until now I had designed my own logos but it was time to go pro with the logo as well.  Thanks Lisa!  I love handmade but somethings need to be left to the pro's.  It still has what I call "my happy color" - that tone of blue - the old logo had combined with a salmon pink and soft blush color for the "wear it and be happy" tag line.  I think it is A W E S O M E...what do you think?

new and awesome logo!

I will continue to share my Japanese (and any other travel) experiences with you and somewhere in between there will give you updates about Simply Mad's new pieces, collections, inspiration and progress.

May 2013 be a year full of magic, love, health happiness and success for all of us!  May this new year be the year when all our dreams come true!

Cheers to a SIMPLY great 2013!
Mad