Chloe + Isabel Deal

     I've been loving my Chloe + Isabel jewelry this week. Every day I've worn something and every day I've received compliments. I am putting in an order tomorrow night (Tuesday, 2/16), but I have a great offer for YOU.

If you place an order with me by tomorrow night at 9pm/ET (February 16th),
you will receive free shipping and $10 off each piece you order. Orders can be sent to 
kelley.j.cole@gmail.com and paid for via PayPal.
Don't miss out on this AMAZING deal. 

Saw This a Few Places Today....

A Starbucks Trip that Opened My Eyes

     Right now, as I type, I am sitting in our local Starbucks. (You're shocked, I know). I just finished class and still have an hour until I need to pick up the kids. This is my "me" time. I usually grab a non-fat latte and my favorite chocolate flourless cookie. Then I sit....and surreptitiously people-watch.

     Last week I had the pleasure of sitting next to a man I dubbed "Mr. Farter". He was larger, quite sweaty, balding, and made lots of grunting noises as he drank and read the paper. Based on is nickname, I probably don't have to tell you that he would get up every few minutes to "stretch". That's when the smell would envelop all of us in the area. It wasn't pleasant. You can imagine my panic when he stopped me on my way out and asked "what business" I was in. Oh joy.

     Today is a little different. There are still a few characters here, but one in particular has tugged at my heartstrings. He is obviously homeless and looking for a warm space. Someone bought him a coffee and several others have said hello to him as they exited. I guess he's a regular, just one I haven't come across in my visits here. It really is cold out today and I find myself wondering where he will go after Starbucks closes at 10. I hope the staff allows him to stay as long as he wants. As someone who comes here every day, I know that they are good people. I know they'll let him sit and stare off into space for as long as they are open.

     But then what? Where does this guy go at 10pm?

     At 10pm, I plan on being cuddled up on the couch watching my DVR. I'll have already made dinner, given the kids baths, and helped them with their homework. I'll probably be drinking a bottle of red wine and nibbling on Godiva dark chocolate. I'll have on my super-comfy pajamas while I sit in front of the fireplace.

    But where will this guy be?

    It's easy to start taking things for granted. Life has been "tough" for our family recently. I haven't had a paycheck since January 8. The hubby has been carrying the entire household for over a month and that has caused stress on our finances and our relationship. However, I put "tough" in quotes because, in all honesty, life could be so much worse. Our bills got paid, we have a roof over our heads, there's always gas in the cars, we're not starving, and I still have had my daily Starbucks. Could we go out for expensive dinner dates in Philly? No. But, so what? Could I buy that Kate Spade purse I've been salivating over? Nope. But I will be able to at some point. There's a light at the end of our tunnel.

    What happens when there is no light? When the tunnel is seemingly endless?

    I feel somewhat guilty sitting here, texting on my iPhone 6 Plus, typing on a laptop, drinking coffee, and dressed in nice clothes (and jewelry...don't forget the jewelry. Chloe + Isabel. Already had one compliment on my bracelet). There is a man 6 feet away from me who apparently has a lot less than I do. How humbling must it be to have someone buy you a cup of coffee because you can't afford it? Obviously I don't know his circumstances and I am making assumptions, but I think it's safe to say that I am lucky. And yes, I've seen homeless people before. This time it really hit me.

    When I wake up in the morning, I wake up in a bed. In a warm house. With my family next to me (yes, the kids are in bed with us when we wake up). I make breakfast and start my Keurig. I take my kids to school in one of two cars I own.

    And yet I still complain.

    It's time to stop looking at what I don't have and to start focusing on all that I do have. It's time to stop being a spoiled brat and to start sharing with others more. Perhaps my path crossed with this man so I could have that wake-up call. Who cares that I dropped an entire bottle of shampoo on my foot this morning? So what if my husband's incessant talking drives me crazy?

    Those are good problems to have....

 

 




 

Chloe + Isabel

I couldn't resist. I love jewelry. Sadly, I rarely buy anything for myself because I feel too guilty.

Then I started seeing ads on Facebook for a company called Chloe + Isabel. I was intrigued. Funny enough, it was the logo that attracted me in the beginning. It was classic, modern, and fun. (Marketing peeps: logos matter. Just an FYI.)

Honestly, I had already almost invested in the more popular brand of Stella & Dot. But when I went to look at their inventory, I wasn't madly in love with a lot of the pieces. I also felt that the company focused more on recruiting "stylists" than selling their jewelry. I wasn't that interested in becoming part of building the "sorority".  

Chloe + Isabel was different. I absolutely LOVED so much of their stuff. I also liked that they have a lifetime guarantee AND a 30-day money back guarantee. They are young -- only about 4 years old -- but I liked that as well. It's exciting to be a part of something fresh. And Ashton Kutcher is an investor....how can you beat that???

I caved and signed up. A week later (and $182 poorer), I received my box of business materials and samples. I was so excited to open it....seriously, better than Christmas. It seemed like there was just package after glorious package. Being a catalog whore, I almost loved the lookbook more than the jewelry. It was just so....pretty.

I am usually super-picky when it comes to my personal style. From clothes to jewelry to shoes to make-up, I can be annoyingly peculiar. Therefore, I wasn't expecting to like 90% of what I received. Guess what? I loved 99% of what came in that big box! (There was some weird rope bracelet thing that I don't even know how to put on.....).

Needless to say, I am totally chloe + isabel obsessed. The earrings I am wearing today have weight to them, making them feel much more expensive than they are. And today's bracelet? Stunning.

Let me know if you want me to host a fun pop-up shop at your home or office. It's about more than just jewelry! If you would rather just check out our items, shop my boutique: https://www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/kelleycole?time=2

Join the chloe + isabel obsession!

The ABCs of My Life

A: Attached or single?  Attached.
B: Best friend?  The hubby
C: Cake or pie?  Cake, preferably chocolate with peanut butter frosting
D: Day of choice? Depends on what I am doing, though I do love Sundays
E: Essential item? My phone, sadly.
F: Favorite color?  Blue.
G: Gummy bears or worms?  Worms ;)
H: Hometown?  The Dirty D
I: Favorite indulgence? Going to the beach alone
J: January or July?  July
K: Kids?  Two. 
L: Life isn’t complete without?  My family.
M: Marriage date? February 24, 2007
N: Number of siblings? One younger brother
O: Oranges or apples?  Oranges.
P: Phobias? Toads. YUCK.
Q: Quotes? Love them. Live by, "Everything happens for a reason."
R: Reasons to smile? My kids make me smile every day.
S: Season of choice? Fall.
T: Tag 5 people. I am pleading the 5th on this one.
U: Unknown fact about me. I never eat the last bite of anything.
V: Vegetable? Squash
W: Worst habit? Cracking my toes 
X: x-ray or ultrasound? I would say ultrasound, hubby would prefer me to have an x-ray. ;)
Y: Your favorite food? Depends on the day and the mood...but Godiva Dark Chocolate and Vanilla truffles would pretty much work any day.
Z: Zodiac sign? Scorpio (not surprising, huh?)

Feeling and Dealing with The Sting

It's summertime and we are loving the sunshine, the ocean, and the carefree days. But sadly, you can still get stung in the summertime...and not by a bee.

I got a job rejection letter today -- one I was NOT expecting. For some reason, I was feeling pretty good about my chances. I had made it through the 1st round (Q&A session with the nominating committee, followed up by teaching a lesson) and was called in to meet the Dean of Instruction for my second round. It was great. He and I are approximately the same age, had a lot in common, he said he liked my answers, thought I was a really good candidate...and then today I got the "thanks, but no thanks" letter.

I was floored. I mean, this job was to run the local community college's Writing Center and teach writing classes. The school is 2 minutes down the road from my house. I already adjunct there twice a week, and have for the past 3 years. Seriously, I couldn't have created a more perfect job if I had done it myself.

Obviously I didn't fit the mold. I read that rejection letter and just started crying. We were on our way to (surprise, surprise) Starbucks...and I could not stop the tears. They continued as I ordered my vanilla chai, as I waited for my drink, and all the way home. The anger was boiling up inside....then the depression set in. I could sense that familiar feeling of self-hatred making its way back into my heart.

You're such an idiot. How can you not get a job at a community college teaching YOUR subject? What is wrong with you? Look at some of these people who teach there full-time and YOU can't get a job there? What a loser. Face it, you are not destined to do more than what you do. Why do you think you can ever move "up"? Stupid. That rejection is a personal one. He didn't like you, didn't think you could do the job. Time to hang up the ambitions of moving on and just be happy with the hand you've been dealt.

This is the third time this year I have put myself out there and been turned down. A few months ago I applied for a teaching position at the same community college. Rejected. But the most painful one was back in November at my current high school. They needed a new department chair. Being reasonably seasoned, mature, responsible, smart, friendly, I thought I was a shoo-in. Little did I know that the principal had already asked the 28-year-old cheerleading coach if she would do it. They weren't expecting me to apply. Therefore, we had to go through the motions of an interview process...only for me to find out later that they were just placating me. The cheerleaders knew their coach was getting the position before I even interviewed. I was embarrassed, ashamed, and angry.

How many times do we have to get slapped in the face before we finally turn and walk away? How do we not take it personally?