Stella & Dot Fall Line Debut!

So for any of you who haven't heard, I have recently become an Independent Stylist for the most amazing company called Stella & Dot. We sell fabulous, on-trend, vintage-inspired jewelry online and at in-home trunk shows. I'm loving every minute of this new venture (I still have my full-time job at the Center).

I wanted to post a quick peek at the brand spanking new Fall/Winter line for 2010. I saw every piece up close and personal last weekend while in San Francisco for the company's national conference. (Which made me a million times more excited, inspired, and ready to work on my new business!) This really is a great company and I'm proud to be a part of it.

If you ever want the opportunity to earn FREE jewelry, just email me at mel.hayes24@gmail.com to set up a trunk show! It's super easy and fun - you can have the girls over for a couple hours to hang out and try on lots of fun jewels! You can also shop online at my personal e-boutique. www.stelladot.com/melissahayes

So without further delay, here's a peek at some of the pieces in our new collection!


Metropolitan Mixed Chain Necklace
my favorite statement piece in the new line!


Charlotte Necklace


Petra Earrings
they're great to add a lot of bling and sass to your outfit!


Claire Necklace
this is a great price (only $49!) for a smaller statement necklace


Sloane Hoops
my favorite earrings for the fall


Liv Multi Charm Necklace


Audrey Cluster Bracelet


La Coco Silver Necklace with Black Flower Brooch (detachable)
This is part of our new La Coco collection that offers a variety of add-ons to mix and match for your own personal style!


La Coco Pearl Strand
this can be worn alone or added to the Silver La Coco necklace (above) for a fun, layered effect!


Vintage Cluster Brooch in Silver
doesn't it remind you of something you'd find in your grandmother's jewelry box?


Charm Necklaces in Gold and Silver
these are great every day, every way necklaces. add letter, birthstone, or symbol charms to make yours special!


Vintage Cluster Ring
a mini statement for your finger!


Fiona Headband for Little Girls
won't your little one look darling in this?


Mini Charlotte Necklace
this is a perfect piece to go with the Charlotte Necklace for mom! i've found that it also fits me well, so it's a great alternative to the larger Charlotte.

skis, snow, food, and family

Last weekend, we went on our annual family ski trip to Lake Tahoe, NV. Everyone except mom was able to make it (silly state testing!), and we had a fabulous time together. We spent Friday and Saturday skiing on Heavenly, ate too many delicious meals to count, and just had a great time hanging out with the family.


the disaster area that was room service for breakfast the first morning :)


going up!


and CRASH goes craig!


mine and lauren's ice dreadlocks from the sudden snow storm that came down on us


the beautiful view of lake tahoe from the ski lift











the view from the top


craig, lauren, me, dad and drew on heavenly


dinner at the sage room


paul makes the best table side dishes! caesar salad, steak diane, and a surprise crepe dessert. yum!


fun in the arcade photo booth

paintings for sale!

So we have some awesome news - we just went under contract to buy our first home!!! We're beyond excited and so looking forward to having a place to call our own. (Especially after our break-in last week...) We're just at the beginning stages of the contract stuff and won't close till the end of March, so it won't really feel like it's officially ours till we have those keys in our hands! It's been a very educational process so far, and we're looking forward to what is to come.

In light of this, I've decided to get back into painting and start selling some more of my work to put toward furniture and other things to fill our soon-to-be real home. Craig keeps telling me I won't be allowed to go shopping once we have a mortgage, and we all know that just won't work for me... so looks like I'd better get busy with the paint brushes!

Anyway, here's a selection of some of the paintings I've done in the past 4 years or so. Although Craig may not agree, I'm putting many of them up for sale. At some point soon, I'll be opening up an Etsy store online where you can browse everything I have to offer and buy right on the spot. I'll post that web address soon, and I'd love it if you could pass on to friends and family who might be interested! I'm hoping to get started on some new paintings as soon as we move in April.

If you see something you like below and are interested in becoming the proud new owner of a Melissa Hayes original masterpiece, let me know! I will gladly hand deliver or have it shipped to you. Not all of the paintings below are for sale, but I can take orders and create something similar or change up the colors. Many of my paintings are oil based and take quite a while to dry before delivering. I also really like to work with watercolors and homemade paints. (Think tea, coffee, Kool-Aid, juice extracted from fresh berries, etc.) The paintings would come unframed unless otherwise discussed. Shipping & handling charges would be added to any orders being shipped.

Happy browsing!


30x40" oil painting - not for sale, but can create new version ($200)


30x40" oil painting - not for sale, but can create new version ($250)


36x36" homemade watercolor painting with tissue paper ($200)


painting detail


24x30" oil painting ($75)


painting detail


30x40" oil painting ($100)


22x28" oil painting ($100)


30x40" oil painting ($250)


30x40" oil painting ($150)


18.5x22.5" watercolor painting with ink on paper - black wooden frame included ($75)

a december to remember

This December Craig and I celebrated our first Christmas as a married couple. (I quickly realized that spending a holiday like this as a married couple actually means traveling between Georgia, Florida and Tennessee for most of our vacation and spending 4 hours stuck in the Memphis airport on Christmas night, but it was still totally worth it!)

We were fortunate enough to be able to take almost a week off of work so that we could spend Christmas with both of our families and actually see each one on Christmas Day. Even with all of the traveling, it was so wonderful to get to spend that very special time of the year celebrating with our parents, brothers, sister, and other friends and family.

In Florida, we soaked up some sun at our pool in mid-70's weather, made margaritas from locally grown strawberries, had a delicious fondue dinner with my parents and Andrew, and got to visit with two of my favorite girls and their families. Craig even got a tattoo! (No worries, it matched my friend Amanda's 4-year-old son's tattoo...) We had a fabulous family dinner on Christmas Eve and enjoyed opening gifts with everyone and just spending time together before we flew to Nashville on Christmas morning.

In Nashville, we made it just in time to give Craig's younger brother and sister their Christmas gift. They were dying to have a Wii and their reaction when opening the box was priceless. Needless to say, much of our time the rest of the weekend was spent in tennis, bowling, and MarioKart tournaments. :) We also enjoyed sampling Craig's mom's yummy new sangria recipe!

Sure, the presents were fun (they're always fun!), but being able to see so many of the people who are dear to us over the holidays was a gift in itself. We're so thankful to have amazing families, great friends, and welcoming homes to gather in with so many of the people we love. The Lord continues to be so very great to us - we are blessed beyond measure and ever so thankful.

I'll always treasure this first Christmas we've had together as husband and wife!


finally at home in arcadia!


matching tattoos for craig and jonathan! he insisted.


my three favorite boys


family dinner at the melting pot. yum!


hanging out by the pool on christmas eve... such a hard life


caleb and brady, nicole's little boys, came over to see us on christmas eve


gabi, andrew, me, craig, and alex. gabi is going to college in the fall (hopefully auburn!) and alex is a freshman at marshall. i can't believe how old they are!


the new and improved sims family


dad surprised us all with our own kindles - they're awesome!


mom wrapped up these cereal bowls that we had when we were younger and gave them to us to take back home. one of the funniest and most favorite gifts i got!


christmas morning - time to head to nashville!


chris, craig's dad, and cassie's funny reactions to their gift


cassie immediately challenged craig to a mario kart race. guess who won?